James McCann hit a three-run homer, and Heston Kjerstad added another as the Baltimore Orioles secured a playoff spot with a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins, completing a three-game sweep on Sunday.
Albert Suárez (9-7) pitched six solid innings, ending a tough September on a high note. He allowed solo home runs to Carlos Santana and DaShawn Keirsey Jr., who hit his first career homer, giving up four hits total, one walk, and striking out four batters.
Jordan Westburg contributed a two-run single for the Orioles, who finished the season with a record of 91-71, earning one of the three American League wild-card spots. They will face Kansas City in the first round of the playoffs.
Baltimore is looking to break an eight-game postseason losing streak that started after being swept by the Royals in the ALCS in 2014.
Last season, the Orioles had the best record in the AL at 101-61 but were disappointing swept in the division series by a strong Texas team that later won the World Series.
Injuries affected their performance this summer, but a lineup filled with young talent like Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Westburg gives them a strong chance for a championship this time around.
The Orioles finished the season with 235 home runs, just two shy of the Yankees for the major league lead.
“I’m really proud of this group. We’ve talked about it a lot, but we’ve had quite a bit of adversity this year,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “It’s an incredible job by the guys in that room.”
The Twins ended the season with a record of 82-80, having lost 27 of their last 39 games. They were 87-75 last year, winning the AL Central and reaching the division series.
“We broke down as the season went on, and that’s hard to say, but it happened,” said manager Rocco Baldelli, who has been assured he will return next year. “So now even more work than probably any offseason I’ve ever had in front of me.”
