After early 5-0 lead, O's blasted 14-7 in Minnesota series opener

Right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez struggled again big time tonight. But after he left the game, it didn't get much better for a while for the Orioles.

Trailing 5-0 in the second inning, the Twins rallied for 10 runs over the fifth and sixth innings tonight to beat the Orioles 14-7 at Camden Yards.

It was pretty much a disastrous night for a pitching staff that had a rotation ERA of 2.37 over the weekend against Toronto. Any feel-good vibes about that series evaporated in the middle of this one.

The five-run second by the Orioles staked Jiménez to the 5-0 lead. At the end of the fourth, the lead was 6-2.

But three singles and Max Kepler's two-run double started the Twins fifth, and it was 6-4. Tyler Wilson came on, and a sac fly and Jorge Polanco's RBI single made it 6-6. Minnesota added six runs on five hits and a Jonathan Schoop error in the sixth for the 12-6 lead.

Over two innings, they torched O's pitchers for 10 unanswered runs and 10 hits, and turned a 6-2 deficit into a 12-6 lead. For the game, Kepler had four RBIs and Eduardo Escobar drove in three runs. After four innings, the Twins were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, but they finished 7-for-19. Miguel Sanó's two-run homer off Stefan Crichton in the ninth completed the Twins' scoring, as Sanó went 4-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs.

The 14 runs allowed tied an O's opponent season high and was the most they've given up in a nine-inning game. The 21 hits is the most allowed this year. The Twins went 21-for-47 in the game for an average of .447.

Jiménez went four-plus innings, allowing nine hits and six runs. He threw 90 pitches and his ERA grew from 6.52 to 7.17. He has allowed five runs or more five times and has thrown 4 1/3 innings or fewer five times.

Wilson, recalled today from Triple-A Norfolk, lasted just 1 1/3 innings and gave up five hits and six runs (four earned) to take the loss.

The outlook seemed brighter much earlier when the Orioles took a 5-0 lead in the second. Trey Mancini had an RBI double, J.J. Hardy an RBI single and Adam Jones drilled a three-run homer to left.

That was Jones' eighth homer of the year. It was No. 125 for him at Camden Yards and that is the most homers hit in this ballpark by any player. Jones broke the tie he had shared at 124 with Rafael Palmeiro.

The Orioles began the night with the major leagues' best home record and the Twins had the majors' second-best road mark. The O's fall to 25-18 for the season and 15-5 at home. Minnesota, winning for the fourth time in five games, improves to 23-18 overall and to 12-5 in road games. The Orioles fall to 1 1/2 games back of first in the American League East.

Now the Orioles try to regroup for Tuesday night's game when Dylan Bundy (5-2, 2.97 ERA) pitches against right-hander Ervin Santana (6-2, 2.07 ERA).