Orioles at Twins
The Minnesota Twins stunned the Baltimore Orioles with three consecutive two-out home runs in the first inning of Friday's series opener and never looked back en route to a 6-1 victory. The Twins will try to win their fifth straight over the Orioles and clinch a series win when they host the second contest of a three-game set Saturday.
Minnesota, which swept a three-game series at Baltimore last weekend, smashed five homers in Friday's triumph to reach 42 for the season, matching the 1964 squad for the most in franchise history through the first 23 games. Nelson Cruz started the first inning barrage, added a solo shot in the fifth and finished 3-for-4 - one more than his hit total from the previous four games. Baltimore is last in the majors in runs allowed (171) and yielded a total of 32 runs in four games against the Twins over the last eight days. Orioles right-hander Dan Straily didn't have much luck against Minnesota last weekend but will give it another try when he opposes righty Jose Berrios on Saturday.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dan Straily (1-1, 8.59 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (3-1, 2.97)
Straily was hurt by the long ball against Minnesota at home last Saturday, when he allowed three runs - all on solo home runs - and six hits in five innings to suffer the loss. The 30-year-old is up to seven home runs among 21 hits surrendered in 14 2/3 total innings. Straily's best outing came in his lone road start, when he held the Boston Red Sox to one run and two hits in five innings to earn a win April 15.
Berrios went up against Straily last Saturday and posted a similar line, allowing four runs on eight hits - three home runs - but was bailed out by his offense and came away with the win. That ended a string of four consecutive quality starts to open the season for the 24-year-old Puerto Rico native, who owns 33 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings. Berrios is 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in two starts at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins LF Eddie Rosario recorded eight home runs in the last 10 games.
2. Baltimore 1B/OF Trey Mancini went 3-for-5 on Friday and is batting .349.
3. Minnesota 3B Marwin Gonzalez is 2-for-28 over his last seven games.