Guthrie Gets a Win on B-Rob's Return

The Birds welcomed back Brian Roberts with a big win on Friday night, as they took down the Twins 3-2 at Camden Yards.

Jeremy Guthrie looked stellar for the second consecutive start, and gave up just two runs on six hits over seven innings. Guthrie matched his season high with six strikeouts (he struck out six in his last outing as well) and did not issue a walk. The bullpen held on to the one-run lead in the eighth, and Alfredo Simon picked up his 14th save of the season to even the series with Minnesota.

It was good to see Roberts leading-off in the first inning...though he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, just his presence on the field made me feel better about this O's team. Roberts was smiling throughout the game, and it was just obvious he was happy to be on the field with the rest of the worst team in baseball...hopefully, he can help turn things around.

After the O's took a 1-0 lead in the first, both teams were held scoreless until Guthrie gave up a two-run shot in the top of the sixth inning. Luke Scott answered right back with a two-run blast of his own in the bottom half of the inning, and the Birds kept the Twins off the board through the final frames.

The O's try to turn this win into a streak on Saturday night...Brian Matusz is slated to take the mound for the Birds.