Ponson, Orioles Blast Twins

May 1, 1999 / 4:04 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Juan Guzman couldn't do it. Neither could Scott Erickson or Doug Linton.

Sidney Ponson became the first Baltimore starter to win a game besides Mike Mussina, allowing only two hits in seven shutout innings as the Orioles beat the Minnesota Twins 7-1 Friday night.

Ponson (1-2) struck out four, walked three and allowed only two runners past first base in lowering his ERA from 6.23 to 4.05. It was a rare pitching gem for the Orioles, who began the day with the worst ERA in the majors (6.76).

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"You keep waiting for a veteran to pick us up and a 22-year-old kid does it," Baltimore manager Ray Miller said. "That's just what we needed."

Harold Baines homered and drove in three runs for the Orioles, who won for only fourth time in 17 games. Baltimore came in with the worst record in the majors, but the Florida Marlins now own that distinction after losing to Houston.

The Orioles took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and coasted to their most lopsided win of the year behind Ponson, who is 3-0 in four career starts against the Twins and 6-11 against the rest of the American League.

"He had a real good fastball. He threw really hard and was in control of the game," said Minnesota manager Tom Kelly. "He really dominated. I was glad they took him out I was tired of watching him."

Arthur Rhodes gave up an RBI single to Matt Lawton in the eighth, but that hardly detracted from what the Orioles can only hope will be a breakthrough performance.

"That's what it's all about," said catcher Charles Johnson, who had two hits to end a 1-for-23 skid. "You get timely pitching and keep playing good positive hard baseball, things will go your way."

A victory over the Twins on Saturday would give the Orioles their first two-game winning streak of the year and assure Baltimore its first series win since September.

Hopefully this is a big lift for everybody. It's a big lift for me," Ponson said. "Hopefully this will turn us around."

Minnesota starter LaTroy Hawkins (1-4) allowed five runs in 6 1-3 innings and fell to 1-4 lifetime against Baltimore. He has a 9.95 ERA this season.

"There's no room for error. I make a bad pitch and I get hurt with it," Hawkins said. "I'm getting better. It'll turn around. Watch out when I do."

The Orioles took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Brady Anderson singled, B.J. Surhoff hit an RBI double and Baines hit his fourth homer of the year.

"It's important to get an early lead, but it's more important when you're struggling as a team," Baines said.

Baltimore made it 4-0 in the fourth when Willis Otanez scored on a wild pitch. The Orioles then loaded the bases with two outs before Lawton made what was ruled a diving catch on Baines' liner to right, although the replay showed the ball hit the ground.

The Orioles added three runs in the sixth. Baines walked with the bases loaded, Rich Amaral drove in a run with a groundout and Bob Wells hit Otanez with the bases filled.

Notes: The Elias Sports Bureau discovered 11 more games Baines played as a designated hitter, so he broke Hal McRae's career record of 1,428 games at DH on April 14. He's been a DH in 1,440 games. ... Baines is 10-for-20 lifetime against Hawkins. ... Twins rookie Christian Guzman got his first stolen base in the third inning. ... Minnesota pitchers allowed a season-high eight walks.