Slumping Orioles fall in Minnesota: Twins win, 8-3

A Miguel Sano two-run homer keyed a three-run Minnesota first, and the Twins cruised from there to an 8-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

The slumping O’s have lost seven of their last nine since taking the lead in the American League East on June 28.

Kevin Gausman (1-1, 5.00 ERA), in his third start of the season, was tagged for eight runs, seven earned, in three and two-thirds innings of work.

The Orioles went to their A bullpen, which hasn’t been getting a lot of work of late in the recent slide, to pitch the last five and a third, with Brad Brach, Brian Matusz and Zach Britton shutting out the Twins to close out the game, giving up four hits and walking three.

J.J. Hardy hit a two-run homer, his fifth of the season, in the fifth for the O’s (43-41), who despite their recent struggles are still only a game and a half back in the American League East.