Twins Top Orioles, Eliminate Red Sox

BALTIMORE - A strikeout led to three runs for the Minnesota Twins, who got a homer from Torii Hunter and four hits from Rondell White in an 8-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

The outcome eliminated Boston from postseason contention and enabled the Twins to reduce their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to three. Any combination of Minnesota wins and Chicago White Sox losses totaling three will ensure the Twins no worse than a wild-card berth.

Minnesota could also get in as the AL Central winners. The Twins started the day 1 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit, which had a night game in Kansas City.

Justin Morneau got his 126th RBI to tie Harmon Killebrew for the second-highest single-season total in Twins history. Killebrew had 140 in 1961 and 126 in 1962.

Minnesota took a 4-2 lead in the third inning, the key play a strikeout by Michael Cuddyer. With two on and two outs, Cuddyer whiffed on a breaking pitch in the dirt. But the ball got away from catcher Ramon Hernandez, who then threw it over the outstretched glove of first baseman Kevin Millar for an error.

Two runs scored on the play, and Morneau hit Erik Bedard's next pitch up the middle for a single that scored Cuddyer.

Baltimore tied it in the fourth. After Corey Patterson tripled and scored on a groundout by Millar, Brian Roberts chased Twins starter Scott Baker with a two-out double. Chris Gomez followed with an RBI single off Matt Guerrier.

The hit extended Gomez's hitting streak to a career-high 15 games.

Hunter gave the Twins the lead for good in the fifth with his 29th homer after Cuddyer reached on a fielder's choice. Bedard then gave up two straight singles before being lifted.

Bedard (15-10) allowed a career-high 12 hits and three earned runs in 4 2-3 innings.

Baltimore closed to 6-5 with an unearned run in the fifth against Matt Guerrier (1-0), who pitched 1 1-3 innings to earn his first win in 89 career appearances.

Nick Punto hit an RBI single in the eighth and Lew Ford singled in a run in the ninth.

Joe Nathan, the seventh Minnesota pitcher, got three outs for his 34th save.

The Orioles went up 1-0 in the first inning when Roberts hit a leadoff single and scored on a two-out double by Miguel Tejada.

Minnesota tied it in the second. Cuddyer walked and went to third on a single by Hunter, who was called out at second trying for a double - even though replays indicated he beat the tag. White followed with an RBI single.

In the bottom half, Jeff Fiorentino hit a sacrifice fly after a throwing error by shortstop Jason Bartlett and a double by Millar.

Notes:@ Twins 1B Phil Nevin left with a bruised left wrist. X-rays were negative. ... Orioles strength and conditioning coach Tim Bishop announced that he will retire after this season, his 14th with the club. ... It was Bedard's shortest stint since June 1. ... Baltimore turned four double plays. ... Tejada extended his hitting streak to 11 games and moved within five hits of tying Cal Ripken's club record for a season (211).