|
 In the process, the Indians have shown the type of resiliency
that is vital to pulling together a successful season.
Third baseman Carlos Santana hit a two-out, two-run, tiebreaking
double in the 13th inning, and Cleveland earned an 8-7 victory over
the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
With both teams exhausting their bullpens, Baltimore reliever Troy
Patton (0-1) entered with one out in the 13th and allowed
consecutive singles to left fielder Michael Brantley and designated
hitter Lonnie Chisenhall before walking first baseman Nick Swisher
to load the bases.
After catcher Yan Gomes hit a shallow pop-out to right, Santana
delivered a sharp liner just inside the third base line.
The Indians (23-25) tied a season high with four consecutive wins.
The Orioles (23-22) lost for just the second time in 19 games when
leading after seven innings.
"We're becoming the team we want to be," Francona said. "That
doesn't mean we're going to win every night. We make mistakes, but
there's not a better feeling as a staff -- managers, coaches -- when
you love your team. That's the best feeling."
Cleveland's Justin Masterson was scheduled to start Friday but was
moved up after Josh Tomlin was forced into duty in the Indians'
11-10, 13-inning victory over the Tigers on Wednesday. Francona was
forced to use nine pitchers in that game, one shy of the club
record. The Indians used seven pitchers Thursday.
Masterson started strong but then faded, allowing five runs on eight
hits with two strikeouts and three walks over 5 2/3 innings.
"We're a team of grinders," Masterson said. "We're not always going
to be pretty but we're going to make it happen in the end. I think
that's the best come-away from this win and what we've been doing
lately."
Designated hitter Ryan Rayburn hit his first home run of the season,
and Chisenhall got his second for the Indians. Center fielder
Michael Bourn also went 3-for-6.
Baltimore starter Wei-Yin Chen, who was hampered by some defensive
miscues, allowed five runs on eight hits with one strikeout and no
walks over 6 2/3 innings.
Orioles second baseman Ryan Flaherty had two hits, including his
first home run of the season, and right fielder Nick Markakis also
homered. Center field Adam Jones went 3-for-7.
Trailing 3-0, Baltimore erupted for five runs in the sixth with two
outs. Catcher Steve Clevenger and shortstop J.J. Hardy hit
back-to-back RBI singles. Flaherty followed a three-run shot over
the right field scoreboard.
The Indians tied the game in the seventh when Flaherty botched a
grounder that could have been a double play. Cleveland then scored
on a fielder's choice by right fielder David Murphy and an RBI
single by second baseman Mike Aviles that ended Chen's night.
Brian Matusz entered for Baltimore and allowed a deep drive by
shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera that Orioles left fielder David Lough
caught with a diving grab on the warning track.
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The Orioles retook the lead, 6-5, thanks to consecutive errors by
Cabrera and third baseman Santana that put runners on second and
third with one out. After first baseman Chris Davis was
intentionally walked to load the bases, designated hitter Nelson
Cruz hit a sacrifice fly off lefty Marc Rzepczynski.
Chisenhall, pinch-hitting for Rayburn, tied the game again in the
seventh with a long home run to right. Neither team scored again
until the 13th.
"It was a really tough inning," said Patton about the loss. "Both of
those lefties got on weak contact, strange contact, had two guys on
before I even knew what was going on. It was kind of an uphill
battle from there."
Scott Atchison picked up his first save for Cleveland despite
allowing a homer to Markakis. Josh Outman (4-0) picked up the win by
throwing two scoreless innings.
Cleveland is the first team since the Los Angeles Angels in 2010 to
play back-to-back 13-inning games.
"Obviously, all of us in the pen have thrown a bunch over the past
two days," Atchison said. "We kind of manned-up tonight and did what
we had to do to get us through to keep the game where it was until
the offense came around. And they did."
The Indians opened a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Raburn hit a
towering home run to center off Chen.
Cleveland added two runs in the third on a two-out RBI triple by
Brantley, who then scored on a wild pitch by Chen.
"You can say there were a couple pitches we'd like to have back,"
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "But there were also a bunch of
really good pitches made to keep them at bay and give us a chance.
NOTES: Cleveland RHP Zach McAllister was placed on the 15-day
disabled list due to a lower-back strain. The Indians recalled LHP
T.J. House and RHP Mark Lowe from Triple-A Columbus to boost their
pitching depth, and they optioned LHP Kyle Crockett to Columbus. ...
Baltimore RHP Tommy Hunter was placed on the 15-day disabled list
with a left groin strain. The move was retroactive to May 21. The
Orioles recalled RHP Preston Guilmet from Triple-A Norfolk. Guilmet
threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings Thursday night.
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