It Wasn’t Exactly Pretty But It Was A Win
The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins (1-2) on Sunday by a score of 8-6, giving the Birds a series win. The back and forth affair featured a little bit of everything from baserunning blunders to defensive miscues and ten ABS challenges.
Fresh off his 5 year $68M extension, Shane Baz made his first start of the season and his 5.1 inning effort didn’t go the way that he may have hoped it would. Minnesota touched him for four runs in the second inning. Three singles and a hit batter plated a run before a one out double cleared the bases. In the end Baz allowed 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 4 and hitting a batter. He did retire the side in the first, third and fifth innings, however.
Tyler O’Neill drew the Birds within one run with his fourth inning three-run homerun. He finished the day by going 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 3 RBI and a walk.
Dylan Beavers‘ sixth inning double knocked in two runs to put the O’s in the lead until Royce Lewis homered in the seventh, his second of the series, to tie the contest at 5 each. Following the Lewis homer, Minnesota loaded the bases with two outs. Manager Craig Albernaz called on the team’s bases loaded assassin, Rico Garcia, to get out of the situation and he did by striking out Matt Wallner looking (confirmed by ABS).
Pete Alonso, Adley Rutschman and Coby Mayo each drove in a run in the seventh inning and despite Minnesota scoring a run in the eighth, those runs preserved the win for Garcia (1-0).
Ryan Helsley earned his second save of the year and even helped himself by winning his ABS challenge on a third strike to Josh Bell.
2026 Record: 2-1
Next Game: Mon. 3/30 @ 6:35 pm vs. Texas Rangers