Minnesota Twins dominate Orioles to claim 11th consecutive win, closing in on franchise history

Just three weeks ago, the Minnesota Twins looked like a team drifting in the wrong direction. Expectations were high heading into the season, yet nothing about their early performance justified the optimism. The slump wasn’t due to injuries or a depleted roster—it was a team at full strength underperforming. But baseball can be a game of streaks, and since flipping the calendar to May, the Twins have become the hottest team in Major League Baseball.Their 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday marked their 11th straight win—an achievement that now places them in rare company in franchise history. Only four other Twins teams in the modern era have pulled off such a streak: 2006, 2003, 1991, and 1980. Ironically, the 1980 and 2024 squads are the only two among them not to make the playoffs—yet.What’s most remarkable about this surge is that it has come without any dramatic roster changes or major shake-ups. The turnaround has been fueled by timely hitting, shutdown pitching, and clutch moments from rising contributors and seasoned veterans alike.Thursday’s win had all those ingredients. Chris Paddack delivered seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and a walk, while striking out three. It's a performance that continues his remarkable comeback story—since giving up nine runs in his season opener, Paddack has posted a stellar 2.51 ERA across eight starts, including back-to-back seven-inning outings, something he’s never done before in his MLB career.DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Byron Buxton hit Minnesota's first back-to-back homers this season, energizing the dugout and giving the Twins an early 3-0 lead in the third. That spark, however, came at a cost. A collision between Buxton and Carlos Correa shortly after the homers forced both out of the game and into concussion protocol. Buxton initially stayed in before being pulled an inning later.Still, the momentum couldn’t be stopped. Louis Varland and Jhoan Duran combined with Paddack to secure the club’s third shutout of the season. Willi Castro and Royce Lewis also chipped in with two hits apiece, and Lewis crossed a personal milestone by reaching 500 career hits.Next up: a date with the Milwaukee Brewers, where the Twins will look to match last year’s 12-game winning streak. If they keep this rhythm, comparisons to the 1991 championship team—owners of the franchise’s longest winning run at 15 games—might not be so far-fetched.Also Read: Juan Soto expects cold welcome from Yankees fans after making a Subway Series decision few saw coming, says "Whatever they do..."