Indians 7, Orioles 2
Johnny Damon and Asdrubal Cabrera each hit three-run homers as visiting Cleveland broke out offensively and snapped a five-game slide.
Zach McAllister (2-1) pitched 5 2/3 strong innings in his return to the majors, allowing two runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out five to pick up the win for the Indians.
J.J. Hardy hit a two-run homer for Baltimore, which has lost three straight and seven of nine. The Orioles have averaged just 1.6 runs over the last nine games.
Cleveland got on the board in the second when Jose Lopez led off with a single and Michael Brantley drew a walk. Wei-Yin Chen (7-4) got Shelley Duncan to pop out but left a 1-0 fastball over the plate against Damon, who sent his fourth homer over the wall in right-center for a 3-0 lead.
Shin-Soo Choo added a solo homer in the fifth to make it a 4-0 cushion.
Baltimore got two runs back on Hardy’s blast but Chen ran into trouble again in the seventh. Lou Marson doubled and Choo was walked, forcing the Orioles to bring in Luis Ayala out of the bullpen.
The right-hander tried to fool Cabrera with a 2-0 slider but left it up, where the slugging shortstop was able to swat it into the right field seats.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Orioles 2B Brian Roberts is 0-for-15 over the last four games. … Baltimore recalled OF Xavier Avery from Triple-A Norfolk before the game and placed 1B/DH Nick Johnson (wrist) on the 15-day disabled list. … Cleveland manager Manny Acta held a closed-door meeting prior to the game in an effort to break his team out of its current funk. … Indians C Carlos Santana (back) was held out of the game. He is mired in a 1-for-16 slump.