O's use late-inning magic to edge Indians
BALTIMORE -- Chris Davis' only hit of the night was a big one as he delivered the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to give the Orioles a 4-3 series-opening victory over the Indians at Camden Yards on Friday night.
After Corey Kluber struck out 10 and gave up three hits over seven innings, the Orioles scratched a run off of reliever Marc Rzepczynski after just two pitches. Jimmy Paredes led off the inning with a double to right and Davis poked a single down the right field line to give Baltimore the game-clinching lead.
Despite giving up the game-tying home run in the bottom half of the inning -- the Indians' third homer of the night -- Darren O'Day was credited with the victory and improved to 5-0 on the season. With the win, Baltimore moved five games over .500 for the first time all season.
Video: CLE@BAL: Santana ties the game with a solo homer
"There's a lot of momentum swings in those games," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "A couple quick home runs. [J.J. Hardy's] been swinging the bat pretty good for a while. You never feel like you break through against Kluber."
Video: CLE@BAL: Britton induces grounder to notch the save
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Kluber strikes out 10, gets no decison: Kluber pitched well enough to earn the win on Friday, but picked up the no-decision. The right-hander went seven innings, allowing seven hits, three runs and one walk while striking out 10. It was the fifth time this season that Kluber struck out at least 10 and the 18th time of his career. He ran into some trouble in the sixth when he gave up two runs, but looked sharp throughout, especially early on when he struck out the side in the second and third. More >
"The first hit, I left a changeup a little bit," Kluber said. "He was out in front, but he was able to dump it in there. Get to a full count against [Chris] Parmelee and I made a pretty good pitch, but it's a full count so he's looking for a fastball and he did a good job of hitting it. I had Hardy set up pretty well, and I just didn't throw a very good pitch and he was able to get the sacrifice fly."
Video: CLE@BAL: Kluber fans 10 over seven innings
Indians ride the long ball: The Indians tied a season-high for the fourth time with three homers on Friday, with the last one coming on May 27 against Texas. Brandon Moss, Ryan Raburn and Carlos Santana all hit solo home runs, and Santana's allowed the Indians to tie the game at 3 in the eighth. The Indians have not particularly been a home run hitting team this season, and entered the game in 12th amongst the American Leagues in the category.
Video: CLE@BAL: Raburn connects on a solo homer to left
Chen solid in return: After being called up from Class A Frederick prior to the game, Wei-Yin Chen responded with another effective outing. He allowed just two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He also became the first Baltimore starter to go at least six innings in the past seven games. Chen did allow a pair of homers and has given up 13 on the season -- the most of any of Baltimore's pitchers. More >
"I think everybody did their best today," Chen said through an interpreter. "I'm happy we had the win. That's a team effort."
Video: CLE@BAL: Chen pitches six innings of two-run ball
O's bats come through in clutch: The Orioles' lineup struggled for much of the night against Kluber, especially left fielder Travis Snider, who struck out three times. Still, Baltimore remained patient and managed to take the lead in the sixth with a couple of runs. Paredes led off with a single, Parmelee doubled and Hardy hit a sacrifice fly to center that tied the game. Ryan Flaherty then gave the Orioles their first lead with a single up the middle. After O'Day could not hold the lead and allowed the solo homer to Santana, Paredes responded again with a leadoff double and scored on the single by Davis.
"When you put a good swing and get a double with nobody out, 90 percent of the time you're thinking, we're going to score that run now," Paredes said. "We felt great with that. We come back."
Video: CLE@BAL: Flaherty singles to center, scoring Parmelee
QUOTABLE
"Jimmy's slashing and getting after it every day. He never has an off day engaged and being ready. He's not going to let this opportunity get away from him." -- Showalter, on Paredes' 3-for-4 night
"Today, every pitch I threw, literally, they got a hit on." -- Rzepczynski, on allowing three hits on three pitches against the Orioles
20 AND COUNTING
Jason Kipnis increased his hitting streak to 20 games on Friday, marking the longest hit streak in the Major Leagues for 2015. Kipnis poked a dribbler to first base and was able to beat the flip from Parmelee to Chen for an infield single. Kipnis' streak is the longest from an Indians' player since a 22-game streak by Michael Brantley from May 27-June 15, 2012.
Video: CLE@BAL: Kipnis singles to extend his hitting streak
WHAT'S NEXT
Indians: Cody Anderson will look for his first Major League victory on Saturday when he takes the mound at 7:15 p.m. ET in the second of three against the Orioles. Anderson earned a no-decision in his first big league outing on June 21 against the Rays in which he lasted 7 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four.
Orioles: Right-hander Chris Tillman (5-7, 6.22 ERA), who is trying to get back on track this season after emerging as one of the American League's top starters in 2014, gets the start against the Indians on Saturday. Tillman was roughed up again Sunday against Toronto when he allowed six runs and was pulled after just 1 1/3 innings despite being staked with a 7-0 lead.
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