Erickson Gets Rare April Victory, 4-2

Scott Erickson pitched eight innings of five-hit ball to improve to 2-0 for the first time, and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins, 4-2, on Monday night to stretch their winning streak to four.

Erickson struck out four and walked two in only his seventh career victory in April. The eight-year veteran started the season with a 5-15 April record.

Despite working on nine days rest, Erickson had no problem getting his sinkerball to drop. He got 16 ground-ball outs, including three double plays. He faced the minimum 15 batters over his final five innings.

Erickson outpitched Bob Tewksbury (0-2), who had only one bad inning, giving up three runs and five hits in the third. He wound up giving up three runs and seven hits in seven innings. Against the Angels, Tewksbury is 1-1 with a 11.25 earned-run average in 12 innings pitched.

Minnesota got a first-inning run when Terry Steinbach singled in Chuck Knoblauch, who was hit by a pitch. The Twins made it 2-0 in the third on Matt Lawton’s triple and Steinbach’s sacrifice fly.

Knoblauch has reached base safely in all 12 games this season, and has a good chance of continuing the streak against the Angels. He is 88 for 248 (.355) in his career against Anaheim--including 14 of 37 (.378) last season.

Todd Walker’s stolen base in the second inning left Oriole catcher Chris Hoiles 0 for eight in throwing out runners.

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NEXT SERIES FOR ANGELES

WHO: Minnesota Twins

WHERE: At Minnesota

WHEN: Wednesday 5 p.m. and Thursday 10:15 a.m.