BALTIMORE (Interstat) — Tyler O’Neill’s three-run homer sparked a comeback as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins 8-6 on Sunday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Twins built a 6-0 lead in the second inning, highlighted by Tristan Gray’s three-run double. O’Neill’s homer in the fourth cut the deficit before Dylan Beavers’ two-run double in the sixth brought Baltimore within one. The Orioles completed the rally with a three-run seventh inning, keyed by RBI hits from Pete Alonso and Adley Rutschman. Rico Garcia earned the win in relief for Baltimore. Ryan Helsley secured the save before an announced crowd of 18,071. Mick Abel took the loss for Minnesota. Both teams finished with 12 hits. The Orioles improved to 2-1, while the Twins fell to 1-2.

BALTIMORE (Interstat) — In a seesaw affair that defied pregame projections, the Baltimore Orioles rallied from an early four-run deficit to outslug the Minnesota Twins 8-6 on Sunday evening at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, securing a series victory in their opening set of the 2026 season. A crowd of 18,071 witnessed a contest that featured 24 combined hits and a dramatic shift in momentum, ultimately decided by a three-run Baltimore outburst in the seventh inning. The victory improved the Orioles’ record to 2-1, while the Twins fell to 1-2. The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the bottom of the seventh, with Baltimore having just clawed back to tie the game. The Orioles, trailing 6-5, ignited a rally against Twins reliever Mick Abel. Taylor Ward led off with a single and Gunnar Henderson worked a walk. Pete Alonso then delivered a game-tying single to right, scoring Ward. After a pitching change, Adley Rutschman, pinch-hitting, gave Baltimore its first lead of the afternoon with an RBI double, scoring Henderson. An intentional walk to Samuel Basallo loaded the bases for Tyler O’Neill, who grounded into a fielder’s choice that cut down Alonso at the plate. But Coby Mayo followed by lacing a two-strike single into left field, plating Rutschman with a vital insurance run for an 8-6 advantage. The Twins escaped further damage with an inning-ending double play, but the damage was done. The Orioles’ comeback was necessary after the Twins staked starter Bailey Ober to a sizable early lead. Minnesota battered Baltimore starter Shane Baz for four runs in the second inning. The rally was capped by Tristan Gray, who cleared the bases with a three-run double, though he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Gray finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Baltimore began chipping away in the fourth against Ober. After singles by Alonso and Basallo, Tyler O’Neill launched a three-run homer over the left-field wall, his first of the season, slicing the deficit to 4-3. The Orioles drew even in the sixth against the Minnesota bullpen. O’Neill worked a walk and Coby Mayo doubled to put two in scoring position for Dylan Beavers, who delivered a two-run double to right-center, knotting the score at 5-5. Minnesota briefly reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh on a solo home run by Royce Lewis, his second of the year. But that 6-5 lead was short-lived, evaporating in the home half during the decisive Baltimore rally. The Twins threatened again in the eighth, loading the bases with one out against reliever Rico Garcia. Gray came through again with an RBI single to make it 8-7. Garcia, however, struck out Kody Clemens and Byron Buxton swinging to strand the bases loaded and preserve the lead. Baltimore’s Ryan Helsley worked a scoreless ninth for his second save, navigating around a leadoff single and a two-out error. He got James Outman to fly out to left to end the game. The winning pitcher was Garcia, who recorded the final out of the seventh and navigated the eighth-inning jam for his first victory. Abel took the loss for Minnesota, charged with three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Offensively, both teams collected 12 hits. For Baltimore, O’Neill’s three-run homer was the key blow, while Beavers drove in two. Mayo had two hits and the go-ahead RBI. For the Twins, Josh Bell went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two walks, scoring twice. The game, which lasted 3 hours and 13 minutes, concluded a three-game series where the home team won each contest. The result contradicted a pregame simulation by National Statistical that projected a 2-1 Twins victory, though Baltimore’s ELO rating gave them a 57.6% probability to win. The combined 14 runs sailed over the pregame over/under line of 9. The Twins travel to Kansas City to open a three-game series with the Royals on Monday. The Orioles will remain home to begin a three-game set against the Texas Rangers, also on Monday.

Preview: Twins, Orioles Set for Rubber Match in Baltimore BALTIMORE (Interstat) — The Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles will decide their season-opening series Sunday in a matinee finale at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon under clear skies with a temperature around 47 degrees. Both clubs enter with 1-1 records after splitting the first two contests. The Twins evened the series with a 4-1 victory Saturday behind a strong pitching performance. Minnesota will send right-hander Shane Baz to the mound. Baltimore will counter with right-hander Kyle Bradish (0-1), who took the loss Saturday. He allowed two earned runs on two hits over 4 2/3 innings, striking out four. A player to watch for the Twins is right-hander Taj Bradley, who earned the win in relief Saturday. Bradley stifled the Orioles over 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out nine. The series has been defined by pitching. The winning team has scored exactly four runs in each game, with the loser managing just one run. According to National Statistical, the pitching duel is expected to continue. Its game simulator projects a 2-1 Twins victory. However, the same service’s ELO rating system gives the Orioles a 57.6% probability to win. Baltimore has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The over/under is set at 9 runs. Following Sunday’s game, the Twins head to Kansas City for a three-game set starting Monday. The Orioles will remain home to begin a series against the Texas Rangers on Monday.