O's-Twins, Home Run Outfielders

Garrett Olson will try to take the rubber-game of the series against Scott Baker and the Twins. That would be a nice way to start the roadtrip. [With the draft taking place today, I'm going to keep the commentary short here so that I can write both posts at once. Not that I think anyone would complain, as I'm generally long-winded during the O's games. I have to say, it is very nice the way MLB.com puts up video of the games shortly after they happen. That gives me the chance to see all of the stuff I miss when I'm busy or it's not on MASN2.]

Nick Markakis works Baker (who usually has very good control) for a one-out walk. It's good to see Nick hitting well and getting on base again. Baker is able to get out of the inning unscathed.

Olson is not so lucky, as Mike Redmond (in there for Mauer) drives a double to right to bring in Casilla. At the end of one, it's 1-0 Twins.

Millar goes the other way, with a ground-rule double to deep right-field, but he is also left stranded.

Delmon Young hits a one-out single, but then gets caught stealing. Man, can't run; can't hit for power; can't take a walk - at least he has a strong arm in left. That's all the action in the second.

The doubles to right-field keep coming; this time it's Brian Roberts hitting one out there. Attaboy, Nick. He hits one to right too, but it's a little higher and farther than the others. Two-run homer, and the O's take the 2-1 lead. The calender turns to June and Kakes starts swinging a hot bat. Baker once again retires Mora and Huff to end the inning.

Casilla decides to switch things up, and double to left instead. He is left stranded. Neither team is getting that runner in from second today.

Adam Jones singles to center, but it's sandwiched between a couple of K's. Still 2-1.

Another hit (single by Cuddyer) and another man left on. Both pitchers are really scattering their hits.

Here we go again - Nick Markakis (he is on fire) singles, but (can you guess what comes next?) Mora can't bring him in. Each team has five hits, but it's still 2-1.

Imagine that; Nick Punto doubles, and someone actually drives him in. Casilla gets the RBI, and the Twins threaten, putting another runner on (Redmond singled - he's picking up right where Mauer left off going 2-2), but Olson gets out of it. The game's all knotted up, 2-2.

That'll be it for Baker, as Brian Bass is coming in. For the first time in the game, the O's go down 1-2-3.

For the first time in the game, the Twins go down 1-2-3. Olson is still in there though.

This O's team is showing some pop in Minnisota. This time it's Adam Jones, taking it out to left. That puts the Birds back ahead, 3-2. After that, there's a whole lot more nothing. Bynum singles, but is erased on a double play off the bat of Brian Roberts.

With one out in the seventh, Olson walks #9 hitter Nick Punto. That's his final batter, with Matt Albers coming in to face the top of the line-up. Gomez gets a single to put two on, but Albers gets Casilla to ground into the inning ending double play. Both the top and the bottom of the frame ended that way. Nice job by Olson, going 6.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K. It wasn't that dissimilar to Daniel's line, but he was able to scatter the hits.

Craig Breslow comes in and finally Nick is retired on a swinging K. Mora tries to bunt his way one, but Breslow fields it and throws him out. Haven't you homered in the past two games Melvin? Huff works a walk, and Breslow's day is over. Jessie Crain gets Miller to flyout to leave another guy on.

JJ in for the eighth. Redman continues his great day with another single. Pitcher Kevin Slowey will pinch-run for him - that is ironic. A couple of flyballs to left from Morneau and Cuddyer bring Jason Kudel up as a pinch-hitter. He singles to center, and Delmon Young will sit back down in favor of Mauer. Johnson gets him to groundout, to leave the runners stranded. That was a bit scary after yesterday's game. Still 3-2 O's.

1-2-3 go the O's, and it'll be George Sherrill time in the ninth.

Good start, as he gets Mike Lamb swinging. Nick Punto doubles to left to put the tying run in scoring position. I though he was supposed to sick? Gomez flies out to left - two down. And Casilla goes down swinging to end it.

The O's win the game 3-2, and take the series from the Twins. I have to say that the Birds looked like the better team over these three games. They are 29-30 now, and look to get back to .500 against the Blue Jays in Toronto.