Game 148 Recap-
The Baltimore Orioles used 5 home runs and 8 shutout innings from RH Radhames Liz(6-5,6.90) to defeat Minnesota Twins 7-3 Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards. The 5 bombs tied a season high after the had hit 5 home runs in the past 6 games.
The Orioles used 5 home runs in the first 5 innings to build up a 7 run lead, with 4 of them coming off of rookie RH Nick Blackburn(10-9,3.89). RF Nick Markakis got it started with a 2 run homer in the 1st, with rookie 1b Oscar Salazar following with a two run bomb in the 2nd and solo shot in the 4th. LF Lou Montanez(4th) and Markakis(5th) capped the barrage with two more homers.
Liz was outstanding, over 8 innings, he allowed 5 hits with 4 ks and a walk. His control was outstanding(66 strikes over 109 pitches) and he also cited his mental game as key postgame.”I think I used my mind a little better, and my body,” Liz said. “I wasn’t trying to do too much, and let my emotion get to me with men on base.” Twins All star 1b Justin Morneau offered his assessment of the young Orioles hurler:”He’s got mid 90′s fastball, decent slider, pretty good split,” Morneau said. “He threw them all for strikes today, and that’s the key for him.”
Star of the Game-
The 3 rookies- Montanez,Salazar and Liz…. “It gives us something to be excited about for the future,” manager Dave Trembley said. “There are a lot of young guys who played and contributed, Radhames had a good game and we beat a good team. That’s got to give you some incentive for the rest of the season and also be a benchmark for what the possibilities are.”
Orioles Notes-
All star closer LH George Sherrill, back from a 3 week DL stint with shoulder inflamation, had a rough ninth(3 runs) and was pulled from rookie RH Jim Miller(final 2/3rds of the game). “George looked rusty,” Trembley said… 5 Os had 2 hits: 2b Brian Roberts, Markakis, 3b Aubrey Huff, Salazar and Montanez… Juan Castro started at SS, going 0 for 3
Next Game-
Team is off Monday, travel to Toronto for 3 game series vs the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre , starting Tuesday
