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Liz to make season debut vs. Twins

Jun 3, 2008 - 1:17 PM Baltimore (27-29) at Minnesota (30-27) 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Baltimore Orioles will give a promising youngster a chance Tuesday when they visit the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series.

Radhames Liz, who appeared in nine games last season for the Orioles, was recalled from Class AAA Norfolk to make his first start of the season.

The 24-year-old righthander is one of the most promising prospects in the Baltimore system but has started slowly at Norfolk this season, going 1-5 with a 4.05 ERA in 11 starts. He went 0-2 with a 6.93 ERA in the nine games - four starts - with the Orioles last season.

Liz, who threw a no-hitter for Class AA Bowie of the Eastern League on June 2 last season, works off of a fastball that sits at 94-97 miles per hour and adds in a changeup and curveball that both rate as plus pitches.

Baltimore avoided a sweep of a four-game series against the Red Sox on Monday when they mounted a comeback with a four-run eighth inning to earn a 6-3 victory. Adam Jones had the biggest hit of the frame, clubbing a bases-loaded double off the left-field wall.

The Twins come into the series with some momentum as well, having taken the last two games of a four-game set from the Yankees. Joe Mauer's first home run of the season knotted the game at 5-5 in the seventh and Delmon Young doubled in the winning run in the eighth.

Minnesota will send young righthander Kevin Slowey to the mound Tuesday. The 24-year-old has won his past two starts, allowing just one run and six hits in his first career complete game at Kansas City on Thursday.