The Baltimore Orioles split their series with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday with a 5-3 win. The Birds did it with the long ball; each of their five runs were the result of a homerun.
Sending balls out of the yard were Ryan Mountcastle (2 for 4, 2 HR, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI), Cedric Mullins (2 for 3, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 HBP), Jorge Mateo (2 for 3, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 run scored, 1 RBI) and Austin Hays (2 for 4, 1 HR, 1 run scored, 1 RBI). The homerun chain really moved around the dugout.
Hays became the second Oriole to homer to the redesigned left field area; Mountcastle was the first. Mountcastle and Mullins share the team homerun lead with four each.
(Editorial Comment: I do hope the Orioles officially name it “Elrod’s Corner”)
Hays also made the defensive play of the night when he threw Max Kepler out a home from left field in the 4th inning.
Spenser Watkins received a no decision for his start. The right-hander allowed 3 runs on 7 hits, one a Byron Buxton homerun, while walking 2, striking out 2 and hitting Carlos Correa with a pitch. (It is being reported that Correa will be placed on the IL with a finger injury as a result of being hit)
Jorge Lopez (3-1) pitched 1.1 innings of relief, gave up 1 hit and struck out 1 in earning his 3rd win of the 2022 campaign.
2022 Record: 10-16