Jake's high wire act (update)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

July 25, 2010, 10:11am

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The Twins haven't scored a run off Jake Arrieta over the first two innings. It's not from a lack of effort. Arrita gave up a single to Alexi Casilla and walked Jim Thome in the first, but Michael Cuddyer grounded out to end the inning. Jason Kubel singled to lead off the second, but Danny Valencia grounded into a double play. Nick Punto walked with two outs, but Drew Butera flied to left. Arrieta has thrown 33 pitches. The shutout is still alive. It might have gone unnoticed, but Arrieta has turned in five quality starts among his eight outings. Update: Arrieta fell off the wire. The Twins loaded the bases in the third when Jason Repko was hit by a pitch, Casilla singled and Thome walked with one out. Cuddyer swung at the first pitch and lined to short, but Kubel drove a changeup into the right field seats. Twins 4, Orioles 0. That's seven career grand slams for Kubel. Today's ball traveled 414 feet. Valencia followed with a single, the fifth hit off Arrieta, before Punto popped to third. Plate umpire Paul Emmel squeezed Arrieta on a 2-1 pitch to Thome, but the young right-hander must take the blame for this mess. He's allowed nine baserunners in three innings, and his pitch count is up to 57.