Twins' sweep creates tie atop AL Central

Justin Morneau and Carlos Gomez drove in 2 runs each during a 6-run first inning and the Minnesota Twins moved into a first-place tie in the AL Central on Saturday night by completing a doubleheader sweep of the host Orioles with a 12-6 victory.

In the nightcap, Minnesota picked up where it left off following a 12-2 rout in the opener.

The Twins entered the day trailing the division-leading White Sox, whose doubleheader was rained out, by a game.

In the second game, the Twins knocked Orioles starter Garrett Olson (9-8) out after two-thirds of an inning and 27 pitches. It was the shortest outing of Olson's career.

Bobby Korecky (2-0) picked up the victory with 2 innings of scoreless relief. Minnesota's bullpen didn't allow a run over the final six innings.

In the opener, Denard Span homered twice and drove in 4 runs and Gomez had a career-high 4 RBI. Morneau reached base five times with 4 hits and a walk and had 2 RBI.

Scott Baker (9-4) walked three, struck out four and allowed only 1 hit over his final 5 innings. He has won 2 of 3 starts after a string of 6 winless outings.

Phillies 7, Brewers 3: Cole Hamels (13-9) pitched 6 sharp innings, Jimmy Rollins homered, and the host Phillies defeated the Brewers to move within 2 games of the NL wild-card leaders. The Phillies can tie Milwaukee for the top spot by sweeping a day-night doubleheader today.

Struggling Milwaukee has lost 9 of 12, including two straight in Philly. The Brewers are trying to avoid another late-season collapse. They built an 8-game lead in the NL Central by late June last year only to finish 2 games behind the Cubs.

Brewers starter Manny Parra (10-8) didn't make it out of the second inning. The left-hander gave up 5 runs and 7 hits in 1 innings as Milwaukee fell 6 games behind the first-place Cubs in the NL Central.

K-Rod gets record: Francisco Rodriguez set the major-league record with his 58th save this season, closing out the Los Angeles Angels' 5-2 victory over Seattle.

Rodriguez two days earlier tied the 1990 mark of 57 set by Bobby Thigpen with the White Sox. The Angels' right-hander also posted a save Wednesday to help the Angels clinch the AL West title.

He has blown six save opportunities this year. Thigpen blew eight chances in his record-setting season.

"It's unbelievable," Rodriguez said. "Finally I did it.

"It's been an amazing year," he said, praising his fellow relievers. "Without them I couldn't have done this."