The pressure was off the O’s Saturday, and the bats thrived without the weight of expectations as Baltimore bludgeoned the Twins 9-2 to secure their 90th win.
A day after clinching the top Wild Card spot in the AL, Baltimore came into Saturday’s game with nothing left to play for in the regular season. Brandon Hyde brought Jackson Holliday, Emmanuel Rivera and Austin Slater in off the bench, and the bench mob helped fuel an impressive offensive showing for the O’s.
Holliday helped spark a rally that put the Orioles ahead before the Twins could hit. Leading off and playing SS for the first time this season, Holliday started the game with a walk.