MINNEAPOLIS – Matt Bowman jogged from the bullpen to the mound to begin warmups this evening, keeping him in his usual routine for all but the inning. He's not used to being the first to play. He doesn't typically face a leadoff hitter.

The Orioles used an opener. Tucker Davidson arrived for mass relief. They struck Jackson Holliday at the top of the order and started him at shortstop. A handful of regular players were on the bench, and for Gunnar Henderson it was only the third time. The benefits of securing a playoff spot were on display.

Bowman struck out two batters in 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Davidson struck out the Twins over 4 2/3. Ryan O'Hearn and Emmanuel Rivera hit two home runs against rookie Zebby Matthews and Rivera launched a solo shot against reliever Louie Varland. The Orioles secured the home wild card but didn't give up, defeating the struggling Twins 9-2 before an announced crowd of 30,558 brave souls at Target Field.

Bowman allowed one hit and threw 19 pitches in his first major league start, the first ever since 2015 with Triple-A Las Vegas. Davidson, whose contract was selected earlier today, followed suit, allowing four ground balls.

“That was nice,” manager Brandon Hyde said of Davidson. “He played in some big games in his career and had a nice year in Triple-A. It’s great to see him get an opportunity tonight and take full advantage of it.”

The Orioles improved to 90-71, giving them back-to-back 90-win seasons for the first time since 1982-83. They finish the regular season on Sunday afternoon and return to Baltimore for practice and the first game on Tuesday.

The Yankees are the No. 1 seed and are preparing for a possible matchup with the Orioles in the Division Series. You would be the next opponent.

Holliday had his first two-walk game in the major leagues. He had drawn 12 of 200 plate appearances before tonight. He also doubled in the fifth and doubled in the seventh and ninth.

“It was really fun to lead a big league game, and playing shortstop is really special to me,” he said. “Have fun, put on a good game and put on a good offensive show for the team.”

Rivera was the standout hitter with his second career multi-homer game, the first on August 13, 2022 at Colorado, and a run-scoring double. The total distance of his home runs was 847 feet.

“Unbelievable,” said Hyde. “Since he’s been here he’s just done a great job. He stepped in for us in a great way. Nice to see he had a great night on national television tonight. Everyone there is looking forward to him.”

“It was great,” Holliday said. “He brings a lot of really good energy and a certain strength to our forces and it's been really fun to see what he's been able to do in the last few months he's been with us.” It was great.”

Matthews threw 61 pitches in the first two innings and trailed 5-0. He walked seven batters in 97 minor league innings this season and gave out three free passes before the third.

O'Hearn has hit a home run in consecutive games after a drought that began on August 28. He hit a 96 mph fastball down the left field line from 352 feet. Ramón Urías singled in the second inning and Rivera hit a 442-foot shot to center field that sent him hopping and skipping out of the box. Two walks and a single from Adleyrutschman increased the lead to 5-0.

Urías hit a single with two outs in the third and scored on Rivera's double. Matthews, who was named the Twins' minor league pitcher of the year, allowed six runs and seven hits with three walks in three innings. He threw 80 pitches.

Rivera had more in the tank with a 405-foot home run in the fifth, and he walked afterward and hit a single. His four hits, four RBIs and five base appearances are career highs. He has been since September 6th He hit .364 (16-for-44) in 17 games. I'm trying to stay on the Wild Card roster. His 11 total bases tonight are the most on the team this season.

“It's very special, and I think every baseball player hopes to experience a night like this,” he said through interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Luckily I was able to have that tonight.

“This is what you work for all year and these are the expectations you have at the start of a season. Some things didn't work out the way you might want, but at the end of the day, there's a God up there and.” Ultimately, things work out the way they do for a reason.

Hyde had no idea why his teammates called Rivera “The Octopus.” He tried to explain.

“Well, my dad had the same nickname as 'The Octopus,' 'The Octopi,' I think, since I was a little kid,” Rivera said. “That day he started calling me the same thing as my father.”

This led to the obvious follow-up question. Why did his father have that nickname?

“Well, it just seems to be a family thing,” he said. “So they just passed it on and decided to use it for me too. Some people also say it's because of my defense, and I play really good defense out there, so it makes sense. But it's really a family thing.” “

Infielder Kyle Farmer threw out the ninth pitch for the Twins – his fourth career appearance on the mound – and Rivera and Holliday singled. With an “eephus” in the high 30s and low 40s, Farmer allowed Holliday’s single but no runs.

rutschman appears to be regaining his plate form. He took a line out to left field, hit a single to left, a double to left and flew deep to left. In the first five innings, everything went in the opposite direction.

Davidson's first two batters got infield hits and his first four outs were groundballs. Brooks Lee's leadoff single in the sixth was a grounder to left field, and Carlos Santana tied it with two outs on a ball that bounced off Rivera's glove.

Anthony Santander rushed Willi Castro's shallow fly ball into the right corner, made a sliding catch, jumped up and shot to second base for a double play.

Davidson said he was in Atlanta when he was told about his promotion. He flew to Minnesota yesterday.

“I was ready, any week it could happen,” he said earlier today. “I had a really good June and I thought, 'Okay, this could happen,' and then we got a few guys back from injuries and stuff, and I thought, 'Okay, I understand the business side of it all.'” “But just keep talking about everything, my business and everything.”

“I'm glad I was able to be here. It took a little longer than I thought, but I did it.”

The Orioles claimed Tucker off waivers in October and he posted a 3.89 ERA and 1.340 WHIP in 32 games with Triple-A Norfolk. He made 17 starts.

“I thought I had a really good year down there,” he said. “I think I found myself as a starting pitcher. … I kind of found my role again and it was fun to learn to pitch through the other lineup two or three times instead of just one inning or being the only guy out of the bullpen. I kind of learned a lot about myself.”

The Orioles have beaten the Twins in nine straight games, their second-longest streak after 12 straight in the 1980-81 season.

Yennier Cano, who had allowed three runs in a third of an inning in his last appearance in New York, left the team in the seventh with two comebacks and a strikeout. Cionel Pérez got through the eighth with two grounders and a strikeout. Keegan Akin couldn't complete the shutout, giving up a two-out, two-run home run to Ryan Jeffers.

Just a little tweaking before the playoffs. They're just around the corner.

The Orioles seem to be getting back on track.

“Yeah, I think so, and I think it's time to do it, right?” Holliday said. “As I get closer to the playoffs, I think this is a really good place.”

* Reliever Colin Selby has joined the team and is expected to be used out of the bullpen on Sunday.