The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins 6-2 on Sunday and closed out the 2024 regular season with 91 wins. After a day “off” on Monday that will include a Postseason Rally at the Inner Harbor (12 pm-1:30 pm) and a team workout, the Orioles will host the Kansas City Royals in the Wild Card Round beginning on Tuesday.
Albert Suarez (9-7) gave the team just what it needed heading into the Wild Card Series, some length and a quality start. Throwing 71 pitches (48 strikes) in 6.0 innings of work, Suarez may possibly be left off of Baltimore’s Wild Card Series roster. He allowed 2 runs, both on solo homeruns, 4 hits and a walk while striking out 4 Twins batters to earn the win.
Seranthony Dominguez (0.2 IP, H, BB, 2 K) and Gregory Soto (0.1 IP) combined to pitch the seventh inning while Jacob Webb and Colin Selby each allowed a hit and struck out 1 pitching the eighth and ninth innings respectively.
Unlike the previous two games, it was the Twins who struck first, taking a 2-0 lead after three innings. James McCann (1 for 4, HR, R, 3 RBI) countered with a fifth inning three-run homerun. Jordan Westburg (1 for 5, 2 RBI) knocked in two runs with a two-out, bases-loaded single in the 7th.
Heston Kjerstad (1 for 1, HR, R, RBI) hit his fourth homerun in the eighth to finish the scoring for the Orioles.
Ryan O’Hearn went 2 for 2 with 2 runs scored and a walk.
Cedric Mullins went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored.
2024 Record: 91-71 (2nd place in AL East)
Next Game: Wild Card game #1 vs. Kansas City Royals in Baltimore at a time TBD