Twins power past Orioles for doubleheader sweep

Kody Clemens, a relative newcomer to Minnesota, smashed a three-run home run in the eighth inning and the Twins rallied to beat the host Baltimore Orioles 8-6 in the second game of a doubleheader swee

Twins power past Orioles for doubleheader sweep

Kody Clemens, a relative newcomer to Minnesota, smashed a three-run home run in the eighth inning and the Twins rallied to beat the host Baltimore Orioles 8-6 in the second game of a doubleheader sweep Wednesday, pushing their winning streak to 10 games.

Trevor Larnach hit a two-run homer and Willi Castro launched a solo shot for the Twins, who scored in five different innings while collecting 10 total hits. Clemens has been with the Twins for about two weeks.

Cedric Mullins blasted a third-inning grand slam and Heston Kjerstad followed with a home run for the Orioles, who have lost eight of their last 10 games. Of the doubleheader’s 18 innings, they scored in only two of them.

Minnesota won the opener 6-3.

Both of Baltimore’s home runs in the second game came with two outs off Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson. Mullins, Gunnar Henderson and Emmanuel Rivera all had two hits for the Orioles, who led 6-4 after three innings.

Charlie Morton worked three innings out of the bullpen and was in line to pick up his first victory for the Orioles after seven losses before the team’s late-game collapse. Instead, Yennier Cano (0-3) was tagged with the loss.

Morton worked behind Chayce McDermott, who was in his first big-league game of the season and second of his career. He gave up four runs in three innings.

Kody Funderburk (1-0) was the winning pitcher with 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief. Cole Sands worked the ninth for his first save of the season and the sixth in his 103 career relief appearances.

Ryan Jeffers, Castro and Clemens all had two hits for the Twins, who also drew six walks and had a batter hit by a pitch.

The teams combined for five extra-base hits — all home runs.

Woods Richardson gave up six runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts in four innings.

The twinbill was necessary after Tuesday night’s postponed game. The series is scheduled to wrap up Thursday afternoon.