Minnesota broke open a tie game with a four-run six in a 6-2 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez (5-9, 7.06 ERA, 1.95 WHIP) was effective in his stint, giving up a run on five hits in five innings, striking out eight and walking three, but needing 104 pitches to get through five.
The Twins (38-63) broke through on the O’s bullpen. Odrisame Despaigne (0-2, 4.43 ERA, 1.61 WHIP) was touched up for four runs on five hits in an inning and a third.
Adam Jones (.269/.317/.455, 19 HR, 59 RBI) hit a leadoff first-inning homer for Baltimore (58-43), which has a one and a half game lead on Toronto (57-45) in the AL East.