Alan Roden's go-ahead double capped Minnesota's four-run third inning and continued his quick rise into an important lineup role.
Alan Roden stepped in with the score tied Wednesday and drove a double to right field, bringing home Brooks Lee with the run that put Minnesota ahead for good.
The hit completed a four-run third inning and helped the Twins turn an early three-run hole into a 7-5 win over Baltimore.
Roden finished with three hits, matching Josh Bell for the team lead, while Minnesota collected 14 as a group.
His best swing arrived in the inning that changed the game, and it came after the lineup had already forced Shane Baz to work through several hard at-bats.
Roden Has Settled in Quickly
Roden described his first walk-off hit last month by saying, “Super excited. It's an absolute pleasure to be a part of this team and to just keep winning."
That early excitement has turned into a regular role because he keeps giving the Twins steady at-bats in different spots.
He opened the season in the minors, returned from a shoulder injury and has since pushed his way into the lineup.
His short major league career now includes several timely hits, and Wednesday showed that he can help without waiting for a perfect matchup.
The Twins have already watched Roden deliver late, including his first career walk-off, but his third-inning double carried a different value.
Minnesota was trying to erase Baltimore's 4-1 lead before the game moved into the bullpen, and Roden finished the rally while the Orioles still had their starter on the mound.
That at-bat also came after Roden singled in the second, so Baz had already thrown his mix once.
Roden stayed ready for a pitch he could drive when Baltimore tried to work around the middle of the plate.
The Lineup
Kody Clemens began the comeback with an RBI single, then Caratini hit a single and Luke Keaschall tied it.
That inning is easier to build when the lineup has Josh Bell supplying a steady veteran bat.
Bell added three hits and extended his on-base streak to 16 games, giving Roden and the hitters around him more chances to bat with traffic.
Zebby Matthews allowed four runs in five innings, a step back from his stronger run earlier this summer.
The offense covered that uneven start, and three relievers followed with hitless innings before Yoendrys Gomez closed the game.
Another Useful Bat
With Bell, Royce Lewis and Caratini producing, Roden can focus on keeping innings moving, handling right-handed pitching and punishing mistakes when an opponent finally has to throw a strike.
That role may grow as Minnesota decides how to arrange its outfield and designated hitter at-bats.
Lewis has even planned offseason work with Bell after building a close relationship, while Roden gives the club another option around them.
Bell's three-hit game against Baltimore gave the Twins another reason to keep both bats involved.
Roden's next opportunity comes against Philadelphia in the Field of Dreams game, where one more steady at-bat could shape the night.
