‘Pen stumbles as O’s drop makeup game to Twins

MINNESOTA — When the Twins and Orioles were originally scheduled to play on May 9 before the game was rained out, neither Robbie Grossman nor Max Kepler were on Minnesota’s roster. Baltimore likely wishes it stayed that way, as the pair combined to reach base safely seven times and score four runs to lift Minnesota to a 6-2 win in Thursday’s makeup game at Target Field.

Grossman, who didn’t join the Twins until May 19 and has been one of the club’s biggest surprises, went 2-for-3 with two walks and helped spark a four-run seventh inning with a one-out double. Kepler, in the midst of a breakout rookie season since being called up on June 1 after a short stint with the club early this year, went 2-for-3 with a walk and a game-tying solo homer in the sixth.

The Twins broke the game open against Baltimore’s bullpen in their four-run seventh, with Brian Dozier providing the go-ahead RBI single to score Grossman with one out, knocking reliever Odrisamer Despaigne from the game. Right-hander Chaz Roe replaced Despaigne, but he gave up an RBI single to Kepler and a two-run triple to Eddie Rosario.

Neither starting pitcher figured into the decision, but both Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez and Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson fared well. Jimenez, making his first start since July 8, went five innings, giving up one run on five hits with eight strikeouts. The lone run he allowed came on an RBI triple from Joe Mauer in the first. Gibson was plagued by a leadoff homer from Adam Jones on his first pitch of the night, but settled down from there. The sinkerballer went six frames, …

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