Orioles at Indians
The Cleveland Indians stopped the bleeding and dealt a blow to the Baltimore Orioles' postseason aspirations with Tuesday's 4-3 triumph. The Indians will vie for just their third win in nine outings on Wednesday when they host the rubber match of the three-game series. Yan Gomes ripped a two-run double and Asdrubal Cabrera had a pair of sacrifice flies as Cleveland awoke from its offensive slumber on Tuesday.
The Indians, who have scored just 20 runs in their last eight contests, remained 3 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the race for the second wild card in the American League. After posting back-to-back seven-run games, Baltimore's offense barely made a peep on Tuesday before Nate McLouth's three-run homer in the ninth inning. The Orioles reside three in back of the Rays after falling for the fifth time in eight contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Zach Britton (2-3, 4.76 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (7-8, 3.81)
Britton received the start after the team elected to push Miguel Gonzalez and the rest of the rotation back one day. The 25-year-old Britton was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday after posting a 3-1 mark with a 2.64 ERA in five August starts with the Tides. "(It's) another opportunity to come up here and show that I've made adjustments," Britton told the Baltimore Sun.
McAllister's three-start winning streak ended in a thud after he yielded five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings in a loss to Detroit on Monday. The 25-year-old has struggled with his control of late, issuing four walks for the second time in a five-outing span. McAllister has split a pair of decisions versus Baltimore, permitting three homers in 13 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland OF Michael Brantley is 11-for-28 during his eight-game hitting streak. He is 1-for-3 with two RBIs against Britton.
2. Baltimore SS J.J. Hardy have five hits and three runs scored in his last three contests.
3. The Indians announced that All-Star RHP Justin Masterson will miss at least one start with a strained left oblique.