Post-game Notes: Twins win pitchers duel

The Orioles played a second straight one-run game in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Twins. They won 5-4 at Chicago on Sunday afternoon. The Birds are 14-17 on the year in one-run decisions and have lost eight of their last 11 decided by a single run. A solid outing - Losing pitcher Chris Tillman was two outs away from a fourth straight quality start. He still pitched a strong game, allowing six hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings, throwing 101 pitches. Tillman is 1-2, 4.58 on the season in six starts. Over his last four starts, Tillman has pitched to an ERA of 3.65. Minnesota has four players in their lineup with 20 or more homers. Those four - Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel and Micheal Cuddyer - tonight were a combined 0 for 8 vs. Tillman. Interesting Stat - While with Triple-A Norfolk, Tillman threw 100 pitches or more just three times in 18 starts. He has now gone over 100 pitches with the Orioles in five of his six big-league starts. Winning pitcher Scott Baker has not suffered a loss since July 7th. Tonight he gave up just one run over seven innings, improving to 12-7, 4.47. Over his last nine starts, Baker is 6-0, 3.10. In five career starts vs. the Orioles, he is 3-0, 2.93. The O's bullpen pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings tonight and the pen's ERA on the first seven games of this road trip is 0.90 (2ER over 20IP). Another two-bagger - Brian Roberts' RBI double in the 3rd scored Baltimore's only run tonight. It was Roberts 10th double in the last 13 games, his 20th in his last 36 games and his league-leading 48th double of the season. Micheal Aubrey singled and scored the lone O's run. He is now 4 for 9 since joining the Orioles. Nolan Reimold went 0 for 3 with a walk as his ten-game hitting streak came to an end. The O's went just 4 for 30 at bat tonight as a team and were 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position. The O's have scored three runs or less now 18 times in 37 games in the second half and are 1-17 in those games. Minnesota is now 6-1 over its last seven games and 34-27 at home. They are 10-12 in August. Catcher Joe Mauer, who began tonight batting .442 in August, went 0 for 4. On the Farm - Norfolk right hander Jake Arrieta pitched seven shutout innings tonight vs. Rochester. He gave up just two hits with six strikeouts and lowered his ERA for the year to 3.92. Over his last four stars, Arrieta has pitched to an ERA of 1.73.