Twins Flip the Script: Roden's Rip Seals Comeback Stunner Over O's
MINNEAPOLIS -- Forget the slow start. The Twins just turned Target Field into a house of chaos, and the Orioles were the ones left dizzy.
Down 4-1 and searching for answers, Minnesota flipped a switch and never looked back, riding a seven-run storm to a 7-5 victory on Wednesday -- and clinching yet another series at home.
Roden Delivers the Knockout
Alan Roden stepped in with the game tied in the third and didn't just get a hit. He ripped a go-ahead double that plated Brooks Lee, giving the Twins a lead they'd never surrender. It was the exclamation point in a four-run third inning that flipped the game completely.
Seven different Twins drove in a run. Seven. That's not a lineup. That's a mob.
Kody Clemens started the surge with an RBI single, Luke Keaschall added a sac fly, and Victor Caratini tied it up before Roden took over. Trevor Larnach chipped in with a run-scoring groundout, Royce Lewis doubled in another, and Josh Bell got the whole party started with a first-inning RBI single.
Matthews Grinds, Gomez Locks It Down
Zebby Matthews wasn't perfect -- six hits, four runs over five innings -- but he gave the Twins exactly what they needed to climb back in. Meanwhile, Yoendrys Gómez slammed the door in the ninth, surviving a run for his 17th save of the year.
The Other Side
Baltimore had its moments. Jackson Holliday gave the O's an early cushion, and Dylan Beavers unloaded a three-run homer in the third -- his first dinger since April 24 -- to push the lead to 4-1. Leody Taveras even took the first pitch of the ninth deep for a solo shot, but it was way too little, way too late.
Shane Baz had his shortest outing of the season, lasting just three innings while coughing up five runs on nine hits, dropping to 4-12.
What's Next
The Twins (60-62) now sit just one game behind Texas for the final AL wild-card spot, and they've won six straight series at Target Field. Next up: Taj Bradley takes the mound Thursday against Philadelphia. The Orioles will look to bounce back Friday against Tampa Bay.
This one had drama, clutch hits, and a bullpen that didn't blink. In late August, that's how you make a playoff push.