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 The Orioles got hits on the first two pitches from Cleveland relief
pitcher Marc Rzepczynski in the bottom of the eighth. Jimmy Paredes
led off with a double on the first pitch, and Chris Davis lined a
tie-breaking RBI single on the next one to give the Orioles a 4-3
victory over the Indians.
Cleveland (33-39) had just tied the game at 3 on first baseman
Carlos Santana's solo homer off right-hander Darren O'Day (5-0) in
the top of the eighth. Rzepczynski came on and gave up the hits to
Paredes and Davis that snapped the tie.
"There's a lot of momentum swings in those games," Orioles manager
Buck Showalter said. "It's not that simple and that smart. Chris
kind of muscled a ball out there. Jimmy jumped on the first thing
hard over the plate."
The Orioles (39-34), who made it five games over .500 for the first
time this season, then got a hit on Rzepczynski's third pitch also,
a single from first baseman Chris Parmelee. and Indians manager
Terry Francona yanked Rzepczynski (1-3).
Three pitches, three hits, one run. A frustrating outing for the
Cleveland left-hander.
"My MO is throwing down low," Rzepczynski said. "Today, every pitch
I threw, literally, they got a hit on."
Left-hander Zach Britton entered in the ninth and earned his 22nd
save, the 18th straight time he's converted a save opportunity. He
just wants to help an Orioles team that's won 16 of its last 21
games.
"Cleveland's a good team, and at this point, winning games is
obviously important," Britton said. "Seeing how the division's
playing right now, it's a little bit, 'let's keep up the pace with
the other guys.' "
The two starters both got no-decisions despite pitching well.
Baltimore left-hander Wei-Yin Chen left with a 3-2 lead after giving
up two runs in six innings in his first start since June 15.
For the Indians, Kluber allowed three runs on seven hits in seven
innings. He struck out 10, all in the first five innings but now has
not won a game in five straight starts. Kluber, last year's American
League Cy Young Award winner, is 3-9 with a 3.66 ERA as the Indians
aren't giving him much offensive support.
"Well, I care about him a lot but he's a tough kid," Indians manager
Terry Francona said. "He'll show up tomorrow and work his rear end
off just like he always does. Every time he pitches, we feel good."
Cleveland hit three solo homers in this game, one each from right
fielder Brandon Moss, designated hitter Ryan Raburn and Santana.
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Shortstop J.J. Hardy hit the only Baltimore home run, a solo shot in
the second. He also hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Second baseman
Ryan Flaherty's RBI single two batters later gave the Orioles a 3-2
lead.
Moss gave the Indians a 1-0 lead with a solo homer to right with two
outs in the top of the second.
That lead didn't last long as Hardy tied the game with a one-out
solo homer in the bottom half of that inning. For Hardy, that was
his first homer since May 15.
The Indians took the lead back when Raburn homered to start the
fourth. That solo shot gave Cleveland a 2-1 lead.
Kluber struck out left fielder Travis Snider three times in those
first five innings alone, the last coming when Baltimore put runners
on first and second with two outs.
NOTES: The Orioles sent LHP T.J. McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk to
make room for LHP Wei-Yin Chen, who started Friday's game. ...
Manager Buck Showalter said CF Adam Jones, who has been out since
June 20 with a sore shoulder, threw before this game. If Jones isn't
showing signs of progress when he comes in on Saturday, he's likely
headed for the 15-day disabled list. ... The Indians came into
Friday's game tied for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the major league
lead in walks this season (263). ... RHP Cody Anderson will make his
second major league start when he takes the mound in Saturday'sgame.
He made his major league debut against the Rays on June 21 with 7
2/3 scoreless innings.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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