Orioles 7, Twins 3

Carlos Silva (L 11-15, 5.95 ERA) went 5.2 innings allowing 5 runs on 10 hits, walking two batters and striking out three, getting his 11th loss of the season and Minnesota's 63rd. Designated hitter Jay Gibbons singled with two out and two on in the first, giving Baltimore the first run of the game.

Minnesota answered in the top of the second after a Torii Hunter single, a wild pitch by Daniel Cabrera (W 8-10, 5.05 ERA) and a groundout moved him to third. Jason Bartlett drove him in on a soft liner to right, but was caught stealing to end the inning.

The real trouble came for Silva in the bottom of the inning. With two down, left fielder Jeff Fiorentino walked before second baseman Brian Roberts smashed one over the right field wall, giving the Orioles a two-run lead. Third baseman Melvin Mora then singled to left and right fileder Nick Markakis (who was a thorn in Minnesota's side last series) drove him in with a line drive double to right. After yet another base hit, Silva finally got Gibbons to pop out.

Cabrera kept the Twins scoreless for the next four frames, allowing a total of 3 runs on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work. In the sixth, Fiorentino and Markakis each doubled bringing the score to 5-1, Baltimore. Willie Eyre (5.66 ERA) came in to relieve Silva and get Tejada.

The Twins added 2 when Justin Morneau led off the seventh with a walk and was forced out on a Hunter ground ball. Torri then stole second before Rondell White drove him in base hit to center (Lew Ford in for White). Lew stole second but Jason Tyner was put on base by a walk, which led to a pitching change: Brian Burres (3.60 ERA) in for Cabrera. Luis Castillo then singled to score Lew and after a double steal, Nick Punto grounded out to end the inning.

Eyre and Dennys Reyes (0.93 ERA) held the O's in the seventh, but Juan Rincon (2.96 ERA) came in to pitch the eighth and fell apart. He immediately gave up a single, giving Baltimore another run on a Roberts double.

Then, Mora sliced a base hit to center on a slider left too high, driving in another run and completely erasing any come-back effort the Twins had put together. Chris Ray (2.81 ERA) pitched a quick 1-2-3 ninth, ending the game.

VS.

The Twins look to even up the series against Baltimore with Scott Baker (5-8, 6.33 ERA) on the mound Saturday afternoon versus lefty Erik Bedard (15-9, 3.62 ERA) and the Orioles. During Baker's last start in Cleveland, he allowed only 1 earned run on 6 hits through six innings, walking two and striking out three. Baker has been one of the Twins rookie starters to really get down to business after a talking-to by babes that love baseball. Bedard pitched seven shutout innings, allowing only 4 hits, walking one and striking out ten in his last start on September 18th at Tampa Bay.

With Chicago losing 11-6 to Seattle Friday, the White Sox (who have lost 7 of their last 8), remain 5.5 games behind the Twins in the Wild Card Standings. Detroit beat Kansas City 7-3, and gained a game and a half lead in the AL Central.

Batting Title Watch: Joe Mauer went 1 for 4 bringing his average down to .344 Friday night, leading Derek Jeter, who went 1 for 4 with a .338 average in New York's 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay.

MVP Action for Friday, September 22:

Justin Morneau: 0 for 3 | 3.23 avg | 125 RBIs | 33 HRs
David Ortiz: 0 for 3 | 2.85 avg | 132 RBIs | 52 HRs
Derek Jeter: 1 for 4 | 3.38 avg | 95 RBIs | 14 HRs
Jermaine Dye: 1 for 4 | 3.17 avg | 119 RBIs | 43 HRs