• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Span homers twice to lead Twins over Orioles

Sep 14, 2008 - 1:01 AM By Sean Burns PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Denard Span had two home runs and four RBI as the Minnesota Twins routed the Baltimore Orioles, 12-2, in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Span, who had four home runs entering the contest, gave the Twins the lead for good with a solo shot in the third inning, then padded the total with a two-out blast off Alberto Castillo in the ninth.

"Span had a heck of a day out there," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said.

The Minnesota offense was in full gear, with Justin Morneau adding four hits, including a pair of RBI doubles, and Carlos Gomez tying a career-high with four RBI.

"We had plenty of opportunities to open the game up, but didn't capitalize at first," said Gardenhire, whose team stranded runners in five of the first six innings. "But we got some good hits late and made it a nice game for us."

The Twins drew a season-high 10 walks. Baltimore pitching leads the majors in walks allowed, issuing 638 free passes through 146 games.

The support was more than enough for Scott Baker (9-4), who retired 15 of the last 19 batters he faced after three straight Baltimore singles made it a 1-1 game in the bottom of the first. Baker struck out four and walked three.

"I tried to just let it fly," Baker said of settling down after Ramon Hernandez's RBI single in the first. "I was either a little jumpy or trying to guide the ball into the zone. I had to find that happy medium. I threw some good breaking pitches, and that allowed me to use my fastball more effectively."

Despite carrying a 3.66 ERA into the game, Baker had won twice since the All-Star break, leaving with the lead and failing to factor in the decision three times in that stretch.

That was not an issue when his teammates touched Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera (8-10) for four runs - three earned - on seven hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Initially, Baker was going to return to pitch the seventh, but Gardenhire decided to hold him after the long sixth, which saw Minnesota bump the lead to 7-1.

"Physically, I felt pretty good," he said. "I wanted to go back out there, but after the long inning it made sense. I understood why they held me back."