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Casilla, Twins rally past struggling Orioles

Aug 25, 2007 - 4:05 AM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Alexi Casilla's eighth-inning sacrifice fly was the key RBI as the Minnesota Twins rallied to defeat the Baltimore Orioles, 7-4, on Friday night.

After spotting the Orioles a 4-0 lead, the Twins came back to take a decisive lead in the eighth inning for the second straight night.

Minnesota has won seven of its last 10 games, while Baltimore has lost four straight for the first time under the reign of manager Dave Trembley.

The Orioles have been outscored, 51-16, during the four-game skid, including an American League-record 30-3 drubbing to Texas on Wednesday - part of a doubleheader loss to the Rangers.

"We haven't won, so it's pretty (darn) difficult," Orioles reliever Jamie Walker said. "We're here to win every game. It's tough to swallow."

With the Twins trailing, 4-3, after seven innings, Justin Morneau led off with a double off Jim Hoey (1-2). Michael Cuddyer singled to put runners on the corners and, after Walker replaced Hoey, Jason Kubel hit a sacrifice fly to score Morneau.

"I'm making the wrong (pitching) decisions," Trembley said. "We're confident that the right guys are in there. We're just not getting the job done."

Jason Tyner singled and pinch hitter Mike Redmond was walked intentionally to load the bases before Casilla's fly ball to left was deep enough to score Cuddyer, giving Minnesota its first lead of the game.

"It happened boom-boom, we're back in the game," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Torii Hunter added a two-run blast in the ninth to finish the scoring.

"When you come back and win games, that's pretty impressive," Hunter said. "When you're winning and end up losing late, that's not fun."

The late rally made a winner of Johan Santana (14-9), who in his previous start set a club record with 17 strikeouts.

"Every time you win a game, that's good, but to win a game this way, that's better," Santana said. "I tried to stay with it, hit my spots and stay ahead in the count."

This time, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner was less than dazzling, allowing four runs. Santana pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits - including three homers - and a walk while striking out seven.

"It's nice to pick up Johan when he gives up four runs, because that doesn't happen very often," Gardenhire said.

Relievers Carmen Cali and Pat Neshek combined for a perfect eighth inning, and closer Joe Nathan retired the side in order in the ninth for his 28th save.

In the bottom of the first, Santana allowed a one-out single by Corey Patterson before Miguel Tejada belted a 1-0 fastball into the seats in left to give Baltimore a 2-0 lead. One out later, Santana served up a 2-0 pitch to Nick Markakis, who deposited the ball over the wall in straightaway center field for a three-run advantage.

The score remained that way until Patterson led off the sixth by hitting the first pitch he saw from Santana over the right-center field fence to put the Orioles up, 4-0.

"If you make a mistake with these guys, they're going to take advantage," Santana said. "They were aggressive. Every time I threw a fastball, they were swinging."

However, Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie ran into trouble in the seventh, when Morneau led off the frame with a solo homer. Cuddyer followed with a single and Kubel hit Guthrie's first offering into the right field seats to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Guthrie allowed three runs, nine hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. The righthander remained winless in five starts this month.