Dozier’s two-run homer in 10th lifts Twins over Orioles 4

He has begun to come into his own this season and, with help from Sano and friends, led the Twins to an 8-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field. Minnesota put up three runs in the first, getting a one-out single from Joe Mauer, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Yost did name him as one of the five “final vote players” fans can vote for to decide who receives the last remaining roster spot.

Trevor May (5-7) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win. The left-hander scattered nine hits and struck out eight. Sano has at least one hit in each game since being recalled and is 6-for-15 with two doubles and two RBIs in four big-league contests. “The German judge gave it a 7.7”, he quipped. Thirteen of the 15 homers Chen has allowed have been hit by right-handed batters, and Sano was slashing an absurd.349/.451/.791 against southpaws in Double-A before being called up. Marwin Gonzalez homered and drove in two runs, while Colby Rasmus also had two RBIs. For the third consecutive season, the Mississippi native leads the Twins in home runs. He finished the season with 112 runs, second in baseball to Mike Trout’s 115. He’s hit the ball hard in his limited time and shown a keen eye at the plate, as well, drawing four walks.

Monday night’s walk off home run proves that Brian Dozier still has what it takes to make it to the All-Star team. With 105 minor league home runs under his belt, the strength was no doubt expected to play at the highest level. But Adam Jones tied it with a drive high off the left field foul pole in the sixth. If he can connect with one of those 95 miles per hour heaters, though…

David Lough led off the 10th with a single and moved to second on Manny Machado’s long fly ball. He lost effectiveness as he aged and his velocity diminished, but now he’s averaging a strikeout per inning with a 2.96 ERA for the O’s, with a fastball that averages just 90.5 MPH.

THE BAD: After Phil Hughes left, Brian Duensing inherited a first-and-third with one out game.

The Chicago defense then let Lester down when Bryant’s throw to second on a Jason Heyward grounder went into right field. Drew Butera followed up with a single to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Twins. That streak ended decisively. “Compared to where he was even two years ago as far as knowledge of the strike zone and being able to take pitches, it’s grown tremendously”. They formed the battery as Perkins earned the ninth-inning save. Machado hit his fourth leadoff home runs of the season. He had to go through the heart of their lineup after that bloop to start the inning.

Minnesota returns home after completing a 4-6 road trip with Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Kansas City.

And the New York Mets blanked San Francisco Giants 3-0. They’ll have to pick it up against the Twins who are heading in with a 16-3 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more. Mets pitchers have allowed exactly three hits in each of their last three wins.