Roden's 2-RBI single, and Rojas' strong start on short notice help Twins top Athletics 2-0

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Alan Roden hit a two-run single to snap Minnesota's scoreless streak at 14 2/3 innings and the Twins beat the Athletics 2-0 on Saturday night.

The Twins had not scored in 25 of their previous 27 innings before Roden drove in a pair in the bottom of the sixth off A's reliever Mason Barnett. Minnesota was shut out in Friday's series opener and scored in just two innings Thursday in Cleveland.

Minnesota left-hander Kendry Rojas moved into the starting role after scheduled starter Mike Paredes was scratched with a left oblique strain he suffered during warmups. Rojas was solid in four innings of work, striking out five and allowing just one hit.

Taylor Rogers (6-3) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Rojas to earn the win. Yoendrys Gómez picked up his 13th save of the season and his 12th with the Twins. Barnett (1-1) took the loss for the A’s.

Nick Kurtz returned to action for the Athletics on Saturday after spending time on the injured list with a right thumb strain. He struggled in his return, striking out four times as the designated hitter.

The Athletics' best chance on offense came in the top of the eighth after the first two batters reach base against Twins reliever Andrew Morris. But Morris struck out Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom and got Jonah Heim to ground out to escape the jam.

Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-8, 5.96 ERA) looks for his first win since April 14. The Twins have not named a starter, but Connor Prielipp (2-5, 5.00) is expected to return from the IL and start.

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Athletics pitcher Brady Basso throws to the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Kendry Rojas throws to the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Minnesota Twins' Josh Bell celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Minnesota Twins' Alan Roden hits a two-run single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Dylan Beavers singled home a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Baltimore Orioles a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night.

Jackson Holliday hit a one-out line drive off Didier Fuentes (4-1), and he ended up with a double when left fielder Mauricio Dubón was unable to make a diving catch. Holliday went to third on Colton Cowser's deep flyout, then Beavers pulled a 100 mph fastball past diving second baseman Ozzie Albies to win it.

The Orioles improved to 9-16 in one-run games after dropping the opener of this series 7-6 in 10 innings. Baltimore is now 2 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the American League. The Braves remained 5 1/2 games ahead of second-place Philadelphia in the NL East.

Yennier Cano (2-2) pitched a perfect ninth for the win. Gunnar Henderson homered for the Orioles, and Albies went deep for the Braves.

The starting pitching matchup of Brandon Young vs. Bryce Elder provided material for new “Who’s on First?” routines — and it was all the more amusing since Young is actually nine months older than Elder.

Baltimore's Young allowed a run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out six. Atlanta's Elder yielded one earned run and four hits in five innings.

Atlanta shortstop Jim Jarvis dropped two popups hit by Pete Alonso. The first of those errors led to a run in the third when Alonso scored on Christian Encarnacion-Strand's single — a line drive that Jarvis also wasn't able to handle.

Henderson struck out three times with men on base, but when he came up with nobody on in the fifth he connected for his 18th homer of the year to make it 2-0.

An RBI grounder by Dubón got the Braves on the board in the sixth, then Albies greeted reliever Rico Garcia with a drive to right in the eighth to tie it.

Reynaldo López (4-3) starts for Atlanta against Shane Baz (4-9) in Sunday's series finale.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Atlanta Braves pitcher Bryce Elder throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Atlanta Braves' Drake Baldwin celebrates after hitting a single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brandon Young throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso celebrates with Baltimore Orioles' Leody Taveras after scoring a run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)