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Hunter help Twins hand Orioles fifth straight defeat

Aug 26, 2007 - 5:16 AM By Rich Dubroff PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - Torii Hunter spoiled Radhames Liz's major league debut.

Hunter's three-run homer sparked the Minnesota Twins to their fourth straight victory, an 8-1 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

Jason Bartlett had four hits and drove in two runs for the Twins, who have beaten the Orioles eight consecutive times.

Hunter sent an 0-1 offering from Liz (0-1) over the left field wall in the sixth inning for his 26th blast of the season, a three-run shot that gave the Twins a 5-1 advantage.

"The last couple of days, we're swinging the bats really well," Hunter said.

Jason Tyner led off the frame with a single and Bartlett drew a five-pitch walk before Liz got Joe Mauer to fly out to center, setting the stage for Hunter to hit his second homer in as many games.

Twins starter Matt Garza (3-4) picked up the win. The 23-year-old righthander pitched five innings, giving up a run, five hits and four walks while striking out two.

"It wasn't the prettiest thing. He knows it," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said of Garza.

Garza's previous start was a disaster, as he allowed seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings against Seattle.

"Every guy wants to take the team deep in the game. I wasn't upset," Garza said. "I look at the big picture. We won the game."

Minnesota (66-63) remained 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cleveland Indians (71-57) in the American League Central Division.

"You have to run some wins off," Gardenhire said. "The way to stay in this thing is to run some wins off."

Liz, who never had made an appearance above the Class AA level, cruised through the first two frames but ran into trouble when he issued back-to-back walks to Jason Kubel and Brian Buscher to start the third. Both would come around to score on Bartlett's two-out base hit.

The Dominican righthander allowed five runs, four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in six frames.

"He throws gas," Hunter said. "(He throws) 97-98 (miles per hour) all game. We heard he was a little erratic, but the first time around, he was ahead of everybody."

The Orioles (58-70) have lost five straight for the first time during manager Dave Trembley's tenure. They are 12 games under .500, equaling their season low.

Despite the loss, Trembley saw a lot to like in Liz.

"He comes as advertised," Trembley said. "He's got an electric arm. He showed tremendous poise, he's got finish on his pitches and there's obviously a lot to work with."

Liz, who pitched in one spring training game, was excited and nervous to make his major league debut.

"When I first threw balls, I was nervous," Liz said. "When I threw strikes, then I felt comfortable. I was feeling like I was feeling in Bowie - comfortable."

The Twins added two runs in the eighth against Rob Bell on a run-scoring double by Hunter and an RBI single by Michael Cuddyer.

Baltimore's only run came in the third inning on Nick Markakis' RBI groundout, which plated Brian Roberts.

Corey Patterson, who is on a six-game hitting streak, had four hits. It was his first four-hit performance since July 2 against the Chicago White Sox.