masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgGame Preview
Cleveland (57-70) at Orioles (52-76)

The Orioles continue to play plenty of close games. They lost one last night and tonight look to even their four-game series with Cleveland at a win each at 7:05 p.m.

Jason Berken (3-11, 6.49) will pitch for Baltimore and Fausto Carmona (3-8, 5.92) starts for Cleveland.

Andy Marte’s two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the 9th Thursday gave Cleveland a 5-4 win in game one of this series. It was his second homer in 69…Game Preview
Cleveland (57-70) at Orioles (52-76)

The Orioles continue to play plenty of close games. They lost one last night and tonight look to even their four-game series with Cleveland at a win each at 7:05 p.m.

Jason Berken (3-11, 6.49) will pitch for Baltimore and Fausto Carmona (3-8, 5.92) starts for Cleveland.

Andy Marte’s two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the 9th Thursday gave Cleveland a 5-4 win in game one of this series. It was his second homer in 69 Major League at bats this year. Marte hit 18 homers earlier in the season at Triple-A Columbus.

The O’s fell to 44-3 when leading after eight innings.

Four of the last five O’s games have been decided by one run and the Orioles are 1-3 in those contests.

Thursday’s game was the first of the year between these two teams that split eight games in 2008.

The Orioles are now 15-16 in games vs. the AL Central, including a mark of 8-6 at home.

Nolan Reimold had a single and walk Thursday and has now reached base in a career-high 14 consecutive games and 72 of 88 on the year.

The O’s team ERA is 3.48 over the last nine games and O’s starters have pitched to an ERA of 3.15 over the past seven games.

Cleveland has been getting solid pitching since the All-Star game. The Tribe’s team ERA of 3.97 is second best in the AL in the second half.

Cleveland has won 15 of 25 and 21 of its last 34 games. The Indians are 22-16 since the All-Star break.

Orioles pinch hitters, 2009 season:
Andino:0-3
Aubrey: 2-2, two singles
Huff: 1-1, 3B and RBI
Izturis: 0-1
Jones: 0-1
Montanez: 0-5
Mora: 0-1
Pie: 2-7, 2B
Reimold: 0-6
Roberts: 0-3
Salazar: 4-11, HR, 3 RBI
Scott: 1-5 RBI
Wieters: 1-1, RBI
Wigginton: 3-12, 2B, 7 RBI
Zaun: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Team: 15 for 66, .227 avg.