BALTIMORE, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Scott Erickson allowed one earned run over seven innings and Gary Matthews Jr. collected three hits and two RBI Wednesday night as the Baltimore Orioles handed the Twins their third straight loss, 6-4.
A former Twin, Erickson (5-10) committed two errors and threw a wild pitch in the third inning, when Minnesota scored all of its runs. But he held on for his ninth straight win against the Twins, giving up seven hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Buddy Groom came out of the bullpen to work the eighth but walked Corey Koskie and hit David Ortiz. Willis Roberts bailed out Groom by retiring Torii Hunter, Doug Mientkiewicz and Bobby Kielty before Jorge Julio pitched a hitless ninth for his 22nd save.
Matthews had RBI singles in each of the first two innings against starter Rick Reed (9-6), who had a personal three-game winning streak snapped.
The Twins had not lost three in a row since June 19-21. Their longest losing streak of the season was a four-game slide in April.
