The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS—Rookie Max Kepler continued to show promise for the future of the Minnesota Twins, though the present-day struggles led to one member of the team being traded away.
Kepler continued his mid-season surge with a game-tying home run among two hits and two RBIs as the Minnesota rallied to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 last night.
The teams were squeezing in a make-up game from a May 9 postponement with Minnesota in the middle of a homestand and Baltimore heading for a weekend series at Toronto.
Minnesota had lost three in a row and was coming off a disappointing two-game sweep at home to the Atlanta Braves in a matchup of two teams with the majors’ worst records.
Following the game, the Twins traded Eduardo Nunez, the team’s lone all-star representative this year, to the San Francisco Giants for ‘AAA’ left-hander Adalberto Mejia.
Minnesota’s Ryan Pressly (5-5) combined with two other relievers to allow just two hits the final three innings.
Kepler’s work negated an effective spot start by Jimenez, who allowed one run and five hits while striking out eight in his first appearance since a 1-1/3 inning start back on July 8.
Adam Jones homered on the first pitch of the game for the Orioles, who head to play the Blue Jays with a 1.5 game lead over Toronto in the AL East.
“We thought tonight was a big game,” said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter.
“We’ll think tomorrow, we’ll think the day after that, and the day after that and the day after that. . . .
“I’m just proud that people deem it important to beat us,” Showalter added.
“We think every game is important.”
Elsewhere in the AL, L.A. edged Boston 2-1 and Texas nipped Kansas City 3-2.
Over in the NL, Washington double San Francisco 4-2, Colorado nipped N.Y. 2-1, Milwaukee beat Arizona 6-4, Philadelphia topped Atlanta 7-5, and St. Louis edged Miami 5-4.
The Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 in interleague play.
