Mancini leaves game with apparent hand injury (game update)

MINNEAPOLIS - As the Orioles try to beat the Minnesota Twins for the first time this year and snap a 10-game losing streak against them dating to last year, their task got tougher early in today's game. The Orioles' top player, Trey Mancini, left the game with an apparent hand injury.

Two pitches before Mancini blooped a single to center in the top of first, it appeared he fouled a ball off his hand. He ran to first after the single that extended his hitting streak to nine games. But after a brief discussion at the bag, he came out of the game.

Mancini began today batting .349/.400/.615 with 11 doubles, six homers and 14 RBIs, and with a 1.015 OPS. He hit .412 (14-for-34) during his eight-game hitting streak, which he extended in his one chance to bat today.

Mancini ranks sixth in the American League in batting, eighth in OPS, seventh in slugging, first in hits, tied for third in doubles, first in total bases and second in runs. His 38 hits are second in the majors to Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who has 42.

Mancini hit six homers in the first 12 games this year, putting him in a tie for most in club history though the first 12 games of a season. It was also done by Frank Robinson (1969) and Chris Davis (2013).

Before today's game, manager Brandon Hyde talked yet again about the consistently outstanding play this year by Mancini.

"I think he is just scratching the surface of what kind of player he can be. You are seeing a guy coming into his own offensively. I just love the way he drives the ball to all parts of the ballpark, and he's so hard to pitch to. And he's so strong. He's a pro. He comes prepared. Just has a pro at-bat every time," Hyde.

Hanser Alberto pinch-ran for Mancini and stayed in the game at second base. Stevie Wilkerson then moved from second to right field to replace Mancini on defense.

Twins lead: The Twins took a 1-0 lead on an unearned run in the third. Willians Astudillo singled and later scored on a two-base throwing error by Baltimore pitcher Dan Straily. After that half inning, Astudillo left the game with a tight left hamstring.

Fit to be tied: Renato Núñez doubled in the O's fourth with two outs and scored on a Rio Ruiz single for a 1-1 tie. José Berríos fanned Chris Davis with two on to end that threat.

Hanser for the lead: Alberto's RBI single in the fifth scored Stevie Wilkerson, who singled and stole second. The O's took a 2-1 lead.

Cron makes O's fans groan: C.J. Cron's line drive two-run homer to left in the sixth gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead. He drove a 3-2 pitch 113 mph off Paul Fry.

Twins double up: Max Kepler's two-run homer off Tanner Scott in the seventh extended the Twins' lead to 5-2.

More longballs: Marwin Gonzalez, Jason Castro and Kepler all homered off Jimmy Yacabonis in the eighth. It's 9-2 Twins.