Indians 5, Orioles 2
Michael Brantley belted a two-run homer and matched a career high with four RBIs as visiting Cleveland rallied to hand Baltimore its fourth straight loss.
Brantley gave the Indians a 3-2 lead with a two-run single in the sixth inning before hammering a 2-2 pitch from reliever Darren O’Day over the right-field fence in the eighth. Nick Swisher and Drew Stubbs each recorded two hits for Cleveland, which has won nine of its last 12 contests.
Ubaldo Jimenez (6-4) allowed two runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings for the win, yielding solo homers by Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters. Vinnie Pestano gave up a walk and a single with two outs in the ninth before securing his fourth save as Manny Machado lined out to shortstop to end the game.
Zach Britton (1-2) pitched five scoreless innings - surrendering only two singles - but yielded three runs and four hits in the sixth without retiring a batter. Swisher lined an RBI single up the middle and, two batters later, Brantley ended Britton’s night with a base hit to center field with the bases loaded.
Markakis gave the Orioles the lead in the first inning, belting a 1-1 pitch by Jimenez over the center-field wall with two outs. Wieters doubled the lead in the fourth by snapping an 0-for-13 slump with another solo blast to center on an 0-2 offering.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis was hit by a pitch and doubled, reaching base for the 26th consecutive game. … Baltimore 2B Ryan Flaherty had two hits and a walk, improving to 10-for-22 in his last six games. … The Indians recalled LHP T.J. House and optioned RHP Carlos Carrasco to Triple-A Columbus, while Baltimore optioned veteran RHP Freddy Garcia to Triple-A Norfolk and recalled RHP Kevin Gausman.