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Liz pitches Orioles past Twins

Jun 4, 2008 - 4:36 AM By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- This was the Radhames Liz the Baltimore Orioles wanted to see.

After struggling in his first taste of the major leagues a year ago, Liz made his first start of the 2008 season a memorable one by earning his first major league win as the Orioles beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-3, on Tuesday at the Metrodome.

Kevin Millar and Melvin Mora both homered in support of Liz, who allowed just one hit and a walk through five innings - ultimately giving up two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings to snap Baltimore's nine-game losing streak to Minnesota dating to 2006.

"I've got the stuff to stay here and pitch," Liz said. "Its about being focused and throwing strikes."

Liz made his major league debut against Minnesota on August 25, 2007, giving up five runs in six innings en route to an 0-2 record with an 11.48 ERA in four starts for Baltimore. He was just 1-5 with a 4.05 ERA for Class AAA Norfolk prior to his call-up, but Liz had allowed just one earned run in his previous three outings over 14 1/3 innings

"His last three outings he's shown significant improvement and the ability to repeat his delivery and the ability to get his secondary pitches over the plate when he was behind in the count," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "He has earned an opportunity to come back here. We think an awful lot of him and I liked what I saw from him tonight."

Liz (1-0) retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced and didn't allow a hit until Justin Morneau singled with two outs in the fourth inning. That was the only hit he allowed through five innings, and by the time he entered for the bottom of the sixth his offense had spotted him a 4-0 lead.

Millar homered to lead off the second inning against Twins starter Kevin Slowey (2-5), and Luke Scott hit an infield single and eventually scored on Adam Jones' sacrifice fly later in the frame.

Jones singled and scored on Brian Roberts' American League-leading fifth triple of the season with two outs in the fifth inning, and Mora blasted his third homer in his last six games to lead off the sixth to give Liz all the cushion he would need.

"(We) just needed a couple of mistakes and (Slowey) made a couple to myself and Mora," Millar said. "We did a good job having good at bats tonight. We swung the bats good and I think the team is starting to swing a lot better."

Liz gave up consecutive doubles to Carlos Gomez, Alexi Casilla and Joe Mauer with one out in the sixth, but Matt Albers retired Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer to minimize the damage.

Slowey was cooled off after allowing just one earned run in his previous 15 innings pitched over two starts, allowing four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts in six innings. He allowed multiple home runs for the third time in seven starts this season and has now allowed 24 home runs in 20 career appearances.

Both home runs came with Slowey ahead in the count, including an 0-2 count to Mora.

"I didn't execute pitches down in the zone as well as I did the previous two starts and I got hurt on them," Slowey said. "I was leaving too many pitches up. I was down in the zone the last couple of starts and I was ahead in the count."

Ramon Hernandez doubled and Adam Jones brought him home with a single in the seventh inning off Twins reliever Juan Rincon, but Minnesota still had its chances a night after coming back on three occasions to beat the Yankees. Jason Kubel and Mike Lamb both walked in the seventh inning, and Brendan Harris plated Kubel with a one-out single, but Albers retired the next two batters on four pitches to get out of the jam.

Mauer singled and Kubel walked in the eighth inning, but Delmon Young stranded them both with a fly out to center field.

George Sherrill pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 19th save in 21 chances and his second in as many nights for the Orioles, who ended their five-game road losing streak.

"We had a couple of chances later in the game, but not many," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We didn't match up very well against their young man. He threw the ball over the plate at 90, 93 miles per hour and located his breaking balls. You can say, 'Be patient,' but when you're down 0-2 all night long that doesn't work. He threw the ball great. He shut us down. Their bullpen did a good job and shut us down."

Mauer was the only Minnesota player with multiple hits as the Twins lost for the fifth time in their last seven home games.

Roberts, Millar, Scott, Hernandez and Jones all had multi-hit games for Baltimore, which won for just the second time in its last six games overall.