Rain delay followed by five-run deficit (O's lose 15-2)

The Orioles waited 2 hours and 31 minutes to start tonight's game because of rain. Fans were invited to move down to the lower seating bowl as a reward for sticking around.

This is no way to thank them.

Miguel Gonzalez retired the Twins in order on 11 pitches in the top of the first inning, but he threw 40 in the second while surrendering five runs.

The Twins sent nine batters to the plate. One out was recorded by Henry Urrutia on the Orioles' 36th outfield assist of the season. They were tied with the Twins for the major league lead.

Gonzalez got ahead of Miguel Sano 0-2 and walked him to open the inning. The Twins loaded the bases with no outs after two singles, and Torii Hunter walked to force in a run after falling behind 0-2.

Kurt Suzuki singled on the next pitch to drive in two more runs, and Eduardo Escobar worked Gonzalez for nine pitches before delivering an RBI double.

Brian Dozier singled with one out to score another run, but Escobar was thrown out at the plate. Joe Mauer grounded out to get Gonzalez back in the dugout as Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia warmed up.

Gonzalez retired the side in order in the third on 14 pitches, leaving his total at 65.

Twins starter Tyler Duffey, making his third major league start, retired the Orioles in order in the first on three ground balls to short. Chris Davis singled and Matt Wieters doubled to open the bottom of the second, but Jonathan Schoop flied to shallow right field and Duffey struck out Steve Clevenger and J.J. Hardy.

Gonzalez entered the game with a 4.42 ERA in 22 starts. He registered a 3.42 ERA in four April starts, a 3.52 ERA in six May starts, a 5.75 ERA in four June starts, a 5.00 ERA in five July starts, and a 5.29 ERA in three August starts before tonight.

The news is better down on the farm, where Single-A Frederick's Mikey O'Brien threw a seven-inning no-hitter at Lynchburg. The last Keys' no-hitter came from Nathan Moreau on June 30, 2010 vs. Salem.

O'Brien walked one and struck out nine to improve his record to 3-4 with a 1.76 ERA.

Update: Sano hit a two-run homer in the fifth to increase the lead to 7-0.

Gonzalez has thrown 96 pitches in five innings while surrendering a season-high seven runs.

Gonzalez hasn't worked more than 5 1/3 innings in nine of his last 12 starts. He's replaced tonight by Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia after allowing seven runs and eight hits in five innings, with two walks, five strikeouts and a home run.

Update II: Trevor Plouffe had a two-out, two-run single off Jason Garcia in the seventh to increase the lead to 9-0.

Garcia hadn't given up a run since coming off the disabled list.

Update III: The Twins scored five runs off T.J. McFarland in the eighth to take a 14-0 lead. Jonathan Schoop was charged with his third error in three games.

The Twins sent 10 batters to the plate.

Update IV: The Orioles won't be shut out. They scored twice in the eighth after loading the bases with no outs against Tyler Duffey. Gerardo Parra and Caleb Joseph had RBI singles and Ryan Flaherty singled to break an 0-for-34 streak.

Escobar homered off McFarland in the ninth to give the Twins a 15-2 lead.

Update V: The Orioles lose to the Twins 15-2 and have dropped all four games against them this season.