O's game blog: Twins look for first four-game sweep in Baltimore since 2007

The Orioles host the Twins today, needing a win to avoid their first four-game sweep at home to Minnesota since Aug. 23-26, 2007. The Orioles are 0-6 against Minnesota in 2015. The Twins have outscored the Orioles 39-15, outhit them .303 to .229 and pitched better in the season series with an ERA of 2.45 to 6.54.

The Birds have lost seven consecutive games to the Twins dating to Sept. 1, 2014. This is the Orioles' longest losing streak against Minnesota since dropping nine in a row from Sept. 23, 2006-Aug. 26, 2007. Minnesota is 12-6 in its last 18 games versus the Orioles.

Over the past four games, the Twins bullpen has tossed 8 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Opposing batters are just 1-for-26 in that stretch and that hit was an infield single by Steve Clevenger.

On the mound today, Kevin Gausman (2-5, 4.48 ERA) faces Twins right-hander Mike Pelfrey (6-7, 3.62), who will be making his 24th start of the season.

Gausman has made 17 appearances and nine starts for the Orioles. As a starter, he is 1-5 with a 4.47 ERA. Over his last five starts, he is 1-3 with a 3.78 ERA and has pitched seven innings or more three times.

Gausman has struggled in the first inning with an ERA of 9.00 and opponent batting average of .366. Of his nine homers allowed this year, four have come in that opening inning.

In seven games and four starts at Camden Yards, Gausman is 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA. Over 30 innings, he has walked six, fanned 26 and given up an average of .212 in home games.

Pelfrey has an ERA of 2.55 in six second-half starts. In four starts this month, he is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and has not allowed a homer over 24 innings.

Pelfrey pitches much better at home than on the road. In 11 starts in Minnesota, he is 4-2 with a 1.97 ERA and .225 average against. In 12 road starts, he has gone 2-5 with a 5.58 ERA and .348 average against.

Henry Urrutia picked up his first career double in the second inning Saturday night. It was his second consecutive multi-hit game and his third this season, and he has now hit safely in four consecutive games, batting .429/.500/.714 (6-for-14).

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop went 1-for-3 with a double last night. Of his 47 hits this season, 18 have been for extra bases. Matt Wieters has now hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, batting .316/.333/.421 (12-for-38). Outfielder Gerardo Parra saw his eight-game hitting streak (.400/.417/.771) snapped Saturday, going 0-for-4.