Adam Jones delivers tiebreaking single in ninth as O's top Twins

The Orioles pulled out a game tonight with a ninth-inning rally and struggling center fielder Adam Jones drove in the decisive runs. The Orioles beat Minnesota 5-3 to take the first of a rain-shortened two-game series.

Tied 3-3 in the ninth, Kevin Jepsen came on and got the first two batters out. Then Joey Rickard doubled and Manny Machado was walked intentionally. On a 1-2 pitch to Jones, a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third.

Jones then lined a fastball into left-center for a two-run single and 5-3 lead. Earlier, Jones had homered, so he produced a three-RBI night. He was batting just .200 at gametime after going 3-for-24 his previous six games.

With their fifth win in seven games and eighth in 12 contests, the Orioles improved to 19-12. They are 4-0 against Minnesota after going 0-7 versus the Twins last season.

Right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed a run in the first inning as Minnesota took the 1-0 lead. Eduardo Nunez and Brian Dozier singled with one out to put runners on the corners. A deep sac fly by Trevor Plouffe put Minnesota on the board. O's pitchers began tonight with a 5.40 ERA in the first inning to rank 10th in the American League in that stat.

Against rookie right-hander Jose Berrios, the O's tied it in the fourth. Mark Trumbo doubled with one out and scored on Matt Wieters' single. Wieters has nine RBIs.

The O's flexed their muscles to take a 3-1 lead an inning later. Machado and Jones hit back-to-back homers for a 3-1 lead. It was No. 10 for Machado off a changeup and No. 2 for Jones on an 0-1 curveball. Jones' blast traveled an estimated 443 feet. He had gone 19 games between home runs.

Machado went 3-for-3 tonight and is batting .365. Machado, Jones and Chris Davis were a combined 8-for-13 with four RBIs.

Gausman was throwing a gem, but one poorly located breaking pitch cost him the lead in the last of the sixth. After a Dozier single, he hung a pitch that Plouffe crushed to center. His third homer tied it at 3-3.

The homer meant Gausman left in a tie game and got a no-decision. Over six innings, he gave up five hits and three runs with two walks and nine strikeouts. His ERA is 2.16 through four starts. Tonight, he recorded season highs in strikeouts and by throwing 111 pitches.

Brad Brach pitched a scoreless seventh and Darren O'Day (2-0) got the win with a 1-2-3 eighth. Zach Britton retired the side in the ninth on nine pitches for his eighth save.

The O's will look for another win on Wednesday afternoon at Minnesota, as right-hander Tyler Wilson (1-1, 3.04 ERA) pitches against right-hander Phil Hughes (1-5, 5.85 ERA).