Baltimore, MD (My Sportsbook) - Radhames Liz threw eight scoreless innings as the Baltimore Orioles downed the Minnesota Twins, 7-3, in the finale of a three-game set at Camden Yards.

Nick Markakis and Oscar Salazar each had a two-run home run and a solo homer, while Lou Montanez added a solo shot for the Orioles, who had dropped four of five coming into the game. Liz (6-5) gave up just five hits and one walk with four strikeouts in the win.

"Liz located, pitched down, had life, ball came out of his hand well," said Baltimore coach Dave Trembley. "He put zeros on the board, had one-two-three innings, made big pitches when he had to, used his off-speed stuff, was in control of the game. Salazar had a big game. Good game."

Nick Punto went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Nick Blackburn was saddled with the loss for giving up six runs on nine hits in four innings of work for the Twins, who had won four of five coming into the game.

Minnesota now sits 1 1/2 games behind Chicago for first place in the AL Central after Chicago's sweep of Detroit in a day-night doubleheader.

Baltimore jumped on top in the first inning. Brian Roberts led off with a single, but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice from Adam Jones. Markakis then belted a pitch over the left field fence for a 2-0 lead.

The Orioles used the longball again in the second inning to make it a 4-0 game. Luke Scott led off with a single and Salazar followed with a shot to left, his fourth home run of the season.

Minnesota had Punto on second with just one out in the third, but he was nailed trying to take third on a Carlos Gomez grounder and Denard Span followed with a line out to end the inning.

A pair of back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth by Salazar and Montanez made it a 6-0 game.

Markakis hit a solo homer in the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 7-0 advantage.

The Twins got a one-out double from Jason Kubel in the seventh, but the next two batters recorded outs.

George Sherrill loaded the bases in the ninth and gave up an RBI single to Brendan Harris before being pulled for Jim Miller, who gave up an RBI single to Punto and a sacrifice fly to Gomez before retiring Span to close out the game.

Game Notes

Liz had dropped his previous two starts...Each team won three games in the season series...Minnesota left seven men on base...Baltimore plays in Toronto for three games starting on Tuesday...Minnesota starts a three-game series in Cleveland on Monday.