MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles have decided to double their pleasure again tonight.
Manny Machado and Adam Jones doubled in the first inning, giving the Orioles nine in the first two games of this series. Nick Markakis and Chris Davis, who didn't get the memo, had RBI singles and Matt Wieters lifted a sacrifice fly.
Orioles 3, Twins 0.
Davis did Twins starter Vance Worley a favor by getting thrown out at second base on Wieters' fly ball to left field.
Markakis is 24-for-44 vs. the Twins since the start of the 2012 season. Jones has hit in 12 straight games against the Twins, going 25-for-54.
Steve Johnson threw 13 of his 17 pitches for strikes in the bottom of the first inning.
Making his first start with the Orioles this season, and the fifth of his major league career, Johnson struck out Ryan Doumit and Justin Morneau after Joe Mauer's one-out single to right field.
One of Johnson's strengths is his ability to change speeds, and he baffled Doumit. The Twins' designated hitter fanned on three pitches: an 89 mph fastball, 67 mph curveball and 78 mph changeup.
Morneau struck out looking at a third consecutive 90 mph fastball from Johnson.
Update: The Twins scored twice in the bottom of the third to reduce the Orioles' lead to 3-2.
Johnson has thrown 57 pitches and allowed two runs and four hits, with one walk, three strikeouts and a wild pitch.
Opponents were 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position against Johnson until Joe Mauer's double scored Eduardo Escobar in the third. Mauer now has 600 career RBIs.
Markakis reached on an infield hit in the top of the third, making him 25-for-45 against the Twins since the start of the 2012 season.
Update II: Matt Wieters' fifth home run of the season, an opposite-field shot, increased the Orioles' lead to 4-2 in the fourth inning.
It was Wieters' first home run since April 29 and his second since April 18.
Wieters has hit three of his home runs from the left side and two from the right side.
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