Twins lose to Baltimore

• Francisco Liriano

Francisco Liriano, of the Minnesota Twins, pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday in Minneapolis. (AP Photo)

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Baltimore Orioles have been getting their brains beaten in for the last two months and limped into Target Field this week without a series victory in their last 14 tries.

They didn’t just win the series against the hapless Minnesota Twins. The AL-worst O’s dominated them like no other opponent this season.

Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer and Jo Jo Reyes went six strong innings to lead the Orioles to a 6-1 victory over the Twins on Thursday, Baltimore’s first four-game winning streak since early June.

Reyes (7-10) allowed one run on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Craig Tatum added a two-run double for the Orioles, who haven’t had a winning streak this long since June 6-10.

“Sooner or later,” manager Buck Showalter said, “the baseball gods kind of let you up for air.”

Anthony Swarzak (3-4) gave up five runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings after left-hander Francisco Liriano left with a strained shoulder after two innings.

Joe Mauer also missed his second straight game for the injury-ravaged Twins, with a stiff neck keeping him out.

Vlad Guerrero, Nolan Reimold and Ryan Adams added two hits each for the Orioles, who swept the Twins at home in a four-game series for the first time.

“The frustration level is at an all-time high for me with the losing and seeing guys get hurt,” said right fielder Michael Cuddyer, who has been with the Twins for 10 years. “It’s tough to go out there. Our coaches deserve an effort and our fans deserve an effort.”

The Twins have looked lifeless on the mound and in the batter’s box for most of the past month, turning Target Field into a place where opposing slumps come to die.

The Orioles had lost five in a row when the series started, and Reynolds and Reyes were the latest beneficiaries. The slugger entered the series on a 6-for-45 (.133) skid with 20 strikeouts. He went 7 for 17 (.412) with two homers and seven RBIs in the four games in Minnesota.

NOTES: Orioles OF Adam Jones missed the game with soreness that likely stemmed from the illness that caused him to miss Tuesday night’s game. ... Orioles CF Matt Angle had a bunt single in the fifth for his first career major league hit. He started his career 0 for 13 before the base hit. ... After getting hit by a pitch on the left wrist on Tuesday night, an MRI revealed no broken bones for Cuddyer. He played and went 1 for 4. ... RHP Tommy Hunter starts for the Orioles on Friday in their series opener against the Yankees at Camden Yards. Hunter (2-2, 4.95) has made two home starts for the O’s this year, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. He’ll face RHP A.J. Burnett (9-10, 4.96). ... The Twins continue their home stand with a series against the AL Central-leading Tigers. With Swarzak rushed into emergency duty on Thursday, it was not immediately clear who would get the start against Detroit’s Rick Porcello.

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