A Byron Buxton single broke a 2-2 tie, and the Minnesota Twins held on for a 3-2 win in Baltimore Saturday night, taking their third win in a row in the weekend series in Camden Yards.
For the second straight night, the O’s had a late lead slip through their fingers. Starter Chris Tillman had given up a run on three hits through six innings, but a one-out walk to Eddie Rosario was followed by a single by Torii Hunter, putting runners on the corners.
Kurt Suzuki scored Rosario from third on a suicide squeeze, chasing Tillman (9-8, 4.51 ERA). Reliever Brad Brach intentionally walked Eduardo Escobar to get to Buxton, who lined an 0-1 pitch to left to score Hunter.
Baltimore (62-60) is six games out of first place in the American League East, and is a game back of the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers for the second wild-card spot in the AL.
Minnesota (62-61) is a game and a half back of that second wild-card spot.