Orioles 3, Twins 2: Inspired by Brian Bob's return, the O's play competent baseball

Jeremy Guthrie pitched seven outstanding innings, Luke Scott continued to hit the snot out of the ball, and Brian Roberts played second base as the Orioles beat the Twins 3-2 to even the season series at 3-3 and give the O's their 31st win on the year. 

The Orioles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to three singles and some hustle from an unlikely source. After Brian Roberts grounded out to end a seven pitch at bat (when's the last time one of our leadoff hitters had a seven pitch at bat?), Miguel Tejada singled to left field. Two batters later, Luke Scott also singled, and Miggi busted his butt over to third base, where he would score on an Adam Jones single up the middle. 

Lefty Brian Duensing shut the Orioles down after that, allowing just one more hit through the fifth inning. That hit, hilariously, was a triple by Ty Wigginton. He had some help from the center fielder, but he still chugged his way around the bases impressively. It was Wiggy's twelfth triple in his big league career and the first since 16 August 2008. 

As good as Duensing was, Jeremy Guthrie was better, at least until the top of the 6th inning. Through the first five innings, Guthrie allowed just three base runners on two singles and a hit by pitch. None were in the same inning, and none of the three Twins reached second base. He started the sixth inning well, getting the first two batters out on a strike out and a ground out, but then allowed a single to Alexi Casilla to bring Joe Mauer to the plate, and that's never a good thing. Guts got ahead 1-2, but then threw one of his few bad pitches on the night. Mauer jumped on the hanging slider and turned it into home run to center field. 

After that, it looked like Guts might end up being the hard luck loser again. The Orioles couldn't do anything at the plate and Guthrie was down by one going into the sixth. The O's caught a break, however. Duensing has spent the entire season thus far in the bullpen, so despite dominating the O's on 66 pitches through five innings, the Twins went to the bullpen to start the sixth, bringing in rookie Anthony Slama. 

Miggi greeted Slama with a single that went between his legs and into center field and moved to second on a wild pitch. Wiggy popped up for the first out, but Luke Scott wouldn't be so kind. The poor kid threw Luke three straight 92 mph fastballs, the third in the lower inside half of the plate. Predictably, it was crushed, and like that the Orioles were back on top 3-2.

Guthrie came back out to pitch a perfect seventh, then gave way to the bullpen. Will Ohman pitched two-thirds of an inning but got into some trouble with a walk and a single, but David Hernandez bailed him out to end the eighth. Closer Alfredo Simon allowed a single in the 9th but was ultimately successful as the game ended on a ground ball to third base that Miggi fielded with a nifty barehanded grab. 

O's win, 3-2! Jeremy Guthrie was awarded his first win since 25 May and pitched his second stellar game in a row. Tomorrow's game features Brian Matusz vs. Scott Baker.