Tuesday, July 19, 2005

MLB: Orioles 3, Minnesota Twins 2 (11 innings, July 18)

WP: Jorge Julio (3-2)
LP: Juan Rincon (4-3)

BAL: 50-42 (2nd in AL East, 0.5 behind New York, tied with Boston)
MIN: 49-42 (2nd in AL Central, 13 behind Chicago)

A pair of homers from players in long home run droughts lifted the Orioles back into the Wild Card lead and second place in the AL East.

The Birds got homers from Sammy Sosa and Miguel Tejada, neither of whom had homered since they both did on June 18th, to take a 3-2 win in 11 innings from the Twins.

Sosa's two-run shot gave the O's a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning, but the Twins came back with a run in the seventh and another in the ninth to send it to extra frames.

In the top of the 11th inning with two outs, Tejada rocked a Juan Rincon offering about 25 rows deep in the left-center field stands.

Jorge Julio, who came into the game in the 10th, held the lead in the bottom of the 11th to get the win.

The Red Sox lost 3-1 to Tampa Bay and the Yankees won an 11-10 barn burner against Texas, so the American League East saw a complete shakeup last night. The Yankees are now in first, a half game ahead of both Boston and Baltimore. The Wild Card standings are also on the move, since the Twins and Yankees were previously tied for first. Now Boston and Baltimore are tied for first.

The Orioles continue their three game set against Minnesota tonight at 8:05, sending red-hot Daniel Cabrera (8-7, 4.70 ERA, throws right) to the mound to face Kyle Lohse (7-8, 4.42 ERA, throws right). Cabrera has won his last three starts, giving up just four runs over 20 innings.

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