MINNEAPOLIS — The fact that the Minnesota Twins chose to pitch around Manny Machado to face Adam Jones with two outs in the ninth inning with the game on the line had something to do with Machado's scalding bat, but it also showed just how deep Jones' season-long struggles at the plate had become.

Forget that the Orioles center fielder had already hit a solo homer into the second deck earlier in the game — a sign his bat was starting to come around — the Twins were challenging the slumping Jones to beat them.

And Jones made Minnesota pay, working a full count before lacing a two-run single into left field off closer Kevin Jepsen, sending the Orioles to their third straight win, 5-3, in front of an announced 21,586 at Target Field.

Jones drove in a season-high three runs.

He had just three hits over his previous 27 at-bats before launching a hanging an 0-1 curveball from Jose Berrios into the second deck an estimated 443 feet for his second homer of the season and his first since April 16 in Texas.

Jones' solo homer followed Machado's team-high 10th home run of the season.

Right-hander Kevin Gausman had been nothing short of spectacular since returning from a season-opening stint on the disabled list, and on Tuesday, he was dominant.

But for Gausman, the difference between earning his first win of the season and his third no-decision in four starts was just one pitch.

Gausman held the Twins to one run on three hits through his first five innings.

Gausman records third straight quality start: Despite the no-decision, Gausman still recorded his third straight quality start, posting a 2.25 ERA over that span.

Gausman struck out a season-high nine batters — including five in a six-batter stretch in the early innings.

Brach on lockdown: With the game tied at 3 in the seventh, right-handed reliever Brad Brach left the go-ahead run stranded on second base.

Brach allowed a one-out single to Danny Santana.

eencina@baltsun.com

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