MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Mauer had three hits and an RBI and the Minnesota Twins bullpen pitched 4 2-3 innings of scoreless relief in a 6-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
Mauer had two singles, a double and a walk to improve his batting average to .333, second in the AL behind the Angels' Mike Trout. Ryan Doumit added two hits and two RBIs for the Twins, who have taken the first two games of the series against the slumping Orioles.
Adam Jones hit a three-run homer for Baltimore, but Zach Britton gave up four runs on six hits with a career-high six walks in four innings as the O's dropped their third in a row to fall 10 games behind the Yankees in the AL East.
Jones was at the plate with a runner on in the ninth, but Jared Burton struck him out for his third save.
The Minnesota Twins have placed right-hander Matt Capps back on the disabled list with more shoulder problems.The Twins made the announcement on Tuesday night, one night after Capps gave up two runs in the ninth inning of a 19-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. General manager Terry Ryan says Capps felt irritation in his rotator cuff after the outing. Capps is scheduled to have an MRI on Wednesday.
He is 1-4 with a 3.81 ERA in 29 appearances this season. He started the year as the team's closer, but arm problems have caused the Twins to use Glen Perkins and Jared Burton in that role.
The Twins recalled right-hander Nick Blackburn, who was sent down to Triple-A Rochester on July 4 with an 8.10 ERA in 13 starts.