Orioles’ Davis hits grand slam to lead O’s over Twins

BALTIMORE — It seems as if there is no ballpark — or landmark — big enough to contain the mighty swing of Baltimore slugger Chris Davis.

Davis extended his torrid start with a grand slam and five RBI, and the Orioles used a five-run eighth inning to beat Minnesota 9-5 Friday in their home opener.

Davis became the fourth player in major league history to homer in his first four games of the season, joining Willie Mays, Mark McGwire and Nelson Cruz. He is 9 for 15 (.600) with four homers and 16 RBI.

According to the Orioles, Davis’ 16 RBIs in his team’s first four games breaks the old big league record of 12.

“If you put him in the Grand Canyon, he’ll hit it out,” teammate Adam Jones said. “Whatever he’s doing, stick to it. Show up tomorrow and do it again.”

Davis insists he’s doing nothing extraordinary, even though the results suggest otherwise.

“I don’t feel like I have anything magical,” he said. “I feel comfortable and I feel like I’m being patient. I’m taking what they give me.”

The Orioles trailed 5-4 before loading the bases with one out in the eighth against Casey Fien (0-1). After Jones tied it with an RBI single, Davis greeted Twins reliever Tyler Robertson with an opposite-field shot to left on the first pitch.

“Leave the ball up to a guy, especially when they’re hot, they’re going to hit it hard sometime,” Robertson said. “He barely swung and he hit that ball. He’s just on fire right now. He’s seeing it good. It’s easy to say I should have went with a breaking ball, but if I get that fastball down, I think I’m OK, too.”

The grand slam set off a wild celebration from the sellout crowd of 46,653, many of whom came to welcome back the Orioles from their banner 2012 season, when they ended a run of 14 years of losing with their first playoff appearance since 1997.

Luis Ayala (1-0) allowed two hits in scoreless 1 2-3 innings for the Orioles, who improved to 3-1 after taking two of three from Tampa Bay on the road.

Brian Dozier drove in three runs for the Twins, who were playing their first road game. Minnesota lost three straight in Baltimore to start last season.

“I saw the ball good today, came up with a couple hits in some key situations, and that’s what hitting is all about,” Dozier said.

Davis knows all about it. No one has come up with more clutch hits during this young season than Baltimore’s muscle-laden first baseman.

“He’s in a good place right now,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

Twins starter Liam Hendricks gave up four runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. He retains his lifetime 1-10 record.

After Dozier put Minnesota ahead with an RBI single in the sixth, Fien struck out pinch-hitter Alexi Casilla in the seventh with runners at second and third and two outs. Casilla was hitting for Ryan Flaherty, who stranded five runners in his previous two at-bats.

But Baltimore completed the comeback in a big way in the eighth.

Starting his third straight home opener for the Orioles, Jake Arrieta was victimized by a four-run fourth inning in which he yielded three consecutive two-out RBI hits. The right-hander allowed four runs and seven hits over five-plus innings, and needed 95 pitches to do so.

Baltimore went up 1-0 in the third when Nate McLouth hit a two-out single, stole second and came home on Manny Machado’s liner up the middle — his first RBI of the season.

Minnesota responded with a four-run fourth. With two outs and two on, Chris Parmelee hit a broken-bat RBI single and Dozier followed with a two-run triple over the head of right fielder Nick Markakis. Eduardo Escobar capped the uprising with a run-scoring single.

The Orioles tied it at 4 in the fifth. Markakis singled and scored on a double by Jones, who took third on the throw to the plate and came home on a sacrifice fly by Davis.

Before the game, the Orioles celebrated some of their accomplishments of last year and paid homage to Earl Weaver, the Hall of Fame manager who died in January.

J.J. Hardy, Jones and Matt Wieters received the Gold Gloves they won in 2012. Instead of a ceremonial first pitch, a baseball was placed next to the pitching rubber as a tribute to Weaver, who won 1,480 games over 17 seasons with the Orioles.

NOTES: The Orioles placed 2B Brian Roberts (right hamstring strain) on the 15-day DL and recalled infielder Yamaico Navarro from Triple-A Norfolk. … Chris Tillman will come off the DL and start for the Orioles on Saturday night. The Twins will send Vance Worley (0-1) to the mound. … Baltimore improved to 40-20 in home openers. … Minnesota hasn’t won in Baltimore since April 21, 2011.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips forward Carter Bear fields questions after the Detroit Red Wings selected him 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on June 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy Natalie Shaver / CHL)
Two weeks after Draft, Silvertips’ Bear still can’t believe it

The Red Wings’ first-rounder reflects on draft night and his experience at Detroit’s development camp.

Storm flies too close to the Sun, loses in an upset

Connecticut snapped a 10-game losing streak to beat Seattle 93-83 on Wednesday morning.

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees flips his bat after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in New York. (Evan Bernstein / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Raleigh, Judge heat up homer race at Yankee Stadium

In the battle of baseball’s biggest sluggers, Aaron Judge… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks linebackers Derick Hall (58) and Boye Mafe (53) celebrate a defensive play during the 2024 season. (Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images / The Athletic)
Season to reveal long-term plans for Seahawks linebackers

The Seattle Seahawks selected edge rusher Boye Mafe with… Continue reading

Silvertips defenseman wins U20 Ball Hockey World Title with Canada

Rylan Pearce helps Canada win gold at the ISBHF U20 World Championships in Slovakia.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) makes a catch against San Francisco 49ers defensive back Rashard Robinson (33) in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer / Bay Area News Group / Tribune News Services)
Sports psychologist changed Seahawks’ Doug Baldwin’s outlook

The former receiver overcame intense emotions during his player career

Paolo Banchero, Orlando agree to max contract extension

The former O’Dea star could earn up to $287 million over five years.

NHL players, owners vote to ratify 4-year CBA

Notable changes include an 84-game season starting in 2026, shorter contract terms.

AquaSox outfielder Carson Jones gets settled in the batter's box during Everett's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 6, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox show progress, but drop fifth straight to Canadians

Jones’ go-ahead, 3-run homer is spoiled in 4-3 loss to wrap up homestand.

Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Three Mariners added to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez,… Continue reading

George Kirby (68) of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenne / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Pirates finish historically bad offensive series in Seattle

Similar to the first two games of the series, the… Continue reading

Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) and Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) guard each other during a free throw in a WNBA basketball game between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena Friday, June 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
Storm uses third-quarter thunderbolt to down Liberty

Rookie Dominique Malonga scored 11 and took over in the third quarter for Seattle.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.