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Liz, homers lead Orioles past Twins

Sep 14, 2008 - 9:59 PM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Radhames Liz authored up a big performance with eight scoreless innings, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Nick Markakis and Oscar Salazar hit two home runs apiece as the Orioles, who had lost 17 of their last 20 games, equaled a season-high with five homers. The victory came a day after the Orioles were outscored by a lopsided 24-8 in getting swept in a doubleheader.

"It's a big weight off everybody's shoulder," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "Radhames did a tremendous job. He didn't walk around the mound."

The Twins, who began the day tied with the Chicago White Sox for the lead in the American League Central, had won four of their previous five.

Liz (6-5) had allowed 13 runs in eight innings in his previous two starts, but was outstanding against the Twins, allowing five hits in eight innings while striking out four and walking one in the best outing of his young career.

"I was trying to go long in the game because we used a lot of pitching yesterday in the games," Liz said. "I felt tired, but I could still get guys out."

Coming into the day, his longest career outing was 6 1/3 innings and the fewest runs he had ever allowed was two.

"The biggest difference was my mind - I kept everything down the whole game," Liz said. "Don't try to use my body too much. When I got men on base, I kept everything down."

George Sherrill made his first appearance since he went on the 15-day disabled list on August 16 with an inflamed left elbow. He briefly let the Twins back in it, allowing three runs in the ninth inning before Jim Miller came in to finish things off.

Markakis hit a two-run home run in the first inning and added a solo shot - his 20th - in the fifth.

Salazar, a 30-year-old journeyman who has just 66 major league at-bats, hit a two-run blast off Nick Blackburn (10-9) in the second and a solo shot in the fourth. He has five homers this season, including three in his last two games.

"I just tried to hit the ball the best I can - hit the ball hard, get a good pitch to hit," Salazar said. "I feel so good for the opportunity to be here again. I feel so happy."

Lou Montanez followed Salazar with his second home run of the season.

"We just couldn't keep the ball in the ballpark," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That's not a good thing when you give up home runs with men on base."

In his first career appearance against the Orioles, Blackburn allowed six runs - all on homers - in four innings. It was the second time this season he had allowed four home runs.

"I just didn't feel right all day," Blackburn said. "I couldn't make an adjustment, and I paid for it today. I knew what I was doing wrong, but I couldn't change it."

Nick Punto had three hits for the Twins and drove in a run.

"We won the series," Twins first baseman Justin Morneau said. "We had a chance to sweep. We don't play well on the road, so two out of three on the road is a positive."