BALTIMORE, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Rodrigo Lopez scattered eight hits in 6 2/3 innings Thursday afternoon to help Baltimore down Minnesota, 5-3.
In the win, the Orioles got a key three-run homer by Jack Cust as they gained a split of their four-game series against the Twins.
Lopez (5-6) allowed three runs in the first three innings, but settled down and won consecutive starts for the first time this season. He struck out the first two batters in the seventh inning, but walked Shannon Stewart and allowed a single to Luis Rivas.
B.J. Ryan replaced Lopez and got Doug Mientkiewicz to line out
to centerfielder Luis Matos. Ryan struck out the side in the eighth, and Jorge Julio gave up one hit in a scoreless ninth for his 27th save in 33 opportunities.
The homer by Cust was his first since last Aug. 2, when he was with Colorado.
Rick Reed (5-11) went the distance for the Twins, allowing five runs and eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
