Pablo López struck out a season-high 11 batters and Carlos Correa hit an upper-deck two-run homer during a five-run third inning as the Minnesota Twins opened a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles with a 9-1 win on Tuesday night.
Byron Buxton also hit a three-run homer in the seventh and drove in four runs for the Twins, who have won three straight.
Baltimore had just three singles in losing their third in a row.
López (3-2), who had 10 or more strikeouts for the 10th time in his career, fanned the side in the first, third and fifth innings. He struck out Dylan Carlson looking to end the fifth, the final batter he faced. The right-hander allowed one run to lower his ERA to 2.18.
"I didn't give the length that I like to provide the team, but a lot of times you gotta take what the game gives you, and I just try to be on the mound competing, competing, making pitches," Lopez said after the game.
Correa’s homer was just his second of the season. The veteran shortstop entered Tuesday’s game batting .216 with a .560 OPS before delivering a 458-foot blast off Orioles starter Cade Povich (1-3).
"It was a big swing and in a winning effort," Manager Rocco Baldelli said about Correa's shot to left. "He's gonna always be grinding and and working. He makes great adjustments. He's gonna continually get better as the season goes on, but he really - he really smoked that one."
Minnesota got Royce Lewis (left hamstring strain) and Willi Castro (right oblique) back from the injured list for the game. Lewis was the designated hitter and went 0 for 4 in his season debut. Castro played left field and was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Key Moment
While Correa’s homer provided the big highlight, Ryan Jeffers hit a two-run single in the third that scored Castro and Buxton to make it 3-0 Twins.
Key Stat
Twins pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts, two shy of the team record for a nine-inning game. Every Oriole batter struck out at least once.
Up Next
Baltimore Orioles (13-21, fifth in the AL East) vs. Minnesota Twins (16-20, fourth in the AL Central)
Minneapolis; Wednesday, 6:40 p.m. Pregame 6:00 p.m. on 830 WCCO and the Audacy App (in-market restrictions apply).
PITCHING PROBABLES: Orioles: Charles Morton (0-6, 9.76 ERA, 2.21 WHIP, 26 strikeouts); Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson (2-2, 4.03 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 30 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Twins -150, Orioles +125; over/under is 9 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Baltimore Orioles will attempt to break a four-game road skid when they take on the Minnesota Twins.
Minnesota has a 16-20 record overall and a 10-6 record in home games. Twins hitters have a collective .372 slugging percentage to rank ninth in the AL.
Baltimore has a 5-12 record on the road and a 13-21 record overall. The Orioles are 7-4 in games when they hit at least two home runs.
The matchup Wednesday is the second time these teams match up this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Byron Buxton has five doubles, two triples and eight home runs for the Twins. Carlos Correa is 15 for 43 with two doubles and a home run over the last 10 games.
Cedric Mullins has seven home runs, 20 walks and 21 RBIs while hitting .246 for the Orioles. Gunnar Henderson is 13 for 38 with three doubles, a home run and two RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 6-4, .281 batting average, 2.58 ERA, outscored opponents by 20 runs
Orioles: 3-7, .224 batting average, 6.07 ERA, outscored by 36 runs
INJURIES: Twins: Harrison Bader: day-to-day (illness), Luke Keaschall: 10-Day IL (forearm), Matt Wallner: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Michael Tonkin: 15-Day IL (shoulder)
Orioles: Ramon Urias: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Grayson Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Colton Cowser: 60-Day IL (thumb), Jordan Westburg: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Gary Sanchez: 10-Day IL (wrist), Tyler O'Neill: 10-Day IL (neck), Cody Poteet: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Zachary Eflin: 15-Day IL (lat), Albert Suarez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Trevor Rogers: 15-Day IL (knee), Andrew Kittredge: 15-Day IL (knee), Tyler Wells: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Bradish: 60-Day IL (elbow)