Twins explode for 20 runs against the Mariners - MLB

The first-place Twins allowed double-digit runs in back-to-back losses — 14-3 to the Mariners, 13-8 to the Giants — entering Tuesday’s game against the Mariners. They got revenge by scoring 20 runs of their own.

The Twins scored four runs in the second inning, seven in the third, one in the fourth, seven in the seventh, and one more in the eighth for 20 total runs. Every starter in the lineup had at least one hit; Joe Mauer was the only starter without multiple hits. Seven Twins had two or more RBI. Kennys Vargas, Jason Castro, and Eddie Rosario each had four hits while Eduardo Escobar had five hits.

Rosario homered three times: two two-run homers and a solo shot. Max Kepler and Brian Dozier also homered.

The Twins set a franchise record when they got their 26th hit and finished with 28.

It’s the second time this season a team has scored 20-plus runs. The Nationals ran roughshod over the Mets 23-5 on April 30 earlier this season. A team crossed the 20-run threshold only once last season. The last time the Twins did it, they beat the Tigers 20-6 on August 22, 2014. The last time the Mariners gave up 20-plus was in a 22-10 loss to the Red Sox on August 15, 2015. The last team to record 28 or more hits was the Rangers when they utterly demolished the Orioles 30-3 on August 22, 2007.

The game featured catcher Carlos Ruiz pitching for the Mariners in the eighth inning. He gave up a leadoff homer to Rosario and walked a pair of batters, but also struck out Kennys Vargas looking with the bases loaded.

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BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles signed outfielder Aaron Hicks less than 24 hours after Cedric Mullins went down with a strained right groin.

Mullins went on the 10-day injured list, but the Orioles are hoping Hicks can help defensively in the spacious outfield at Camden Yards. Hicks was released last week by the New York Yankees with more than 2 1/2 seasons left on his contract.

“We had noticed that he was a free agent even before the injury,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said. “When the injury occurred and it became pretty clear this was going to be an IL, it seemed like a good fit even more so at that time.”

The Orioles are responsible for paying Hicks just $483,871, a prorated share of the $720,000 minimum salary. The Yankees owe him the rest of his $10.5 million salary this year, plus $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.

The 33-year-old Hicks hit just .188 in 28 games for the Yankees this year.

“We have stuff that we look at from a scouting and evaluation perspective,” Elias said. “It’s very different from just looking at the back of a baseball card, and we hope that we get a bounceback from anyone we bring here.”

Hicks batted .216 last season.

“Hopefully that’s a good thing for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the Baltimore deal. “A lot of time here and a lot of good things happened for him here. I know the last couple of years have been a struggle. But hopefully it’s a good opportunity for him and certainly wish him well. Not too well being in our division and a team we’re chasing, but hopefully it’s a really good fit for him.”

Mullins left a loss to Cleveland after he pulled up while running out an infield grounder. Outfielder Colton Cowser – the fifth pick in the draft two years ago – is hitting .331 at Triple-A Norfolk, but he went on the IL in the past couple weeks.

“Certainly he was building a case towards promotion consideration prior to his injury and prior to Cedric’s injury,” Elias said. “We’ll just see where we’re at.”

Hicks was active for the game but not in the starting lineup. Austin Hays, normally Baltimore’s left field, was in Mullins’ usual spot in center.

When the wall in left at Camden Yards was pushed significantly back before last season, it made left field a bigger challenge defensively.

“In this park … you really need two center fielders,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Aaron’s got a lot of center-field experience. Played left field here before also. Brings the defensive aspect and then the switch-hitting.”