Baltimore @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2010 ) Baltimore 3, Cleveland 1

The Baltimore Orioles are still 29 games out of first place, but it has felt like the start of a new season since Buck Showalter took over as manager.

The Orioles seek a season-high five game winning streak Thursday when they face the Cleveland Indians. The Orioles are 8-1 under Showalter, who with another victory can tie Davey Johnson for the best 10-game start to a managerial career in team history. Another victory Thursday will also mark the team’s first sweep of a series in Cleveland for the first time in 23 years.

In order to do that, they’ll need a better performance out of Kevin Millwood than they have received recently. Millwood (2-11) pitched for the Indians in 2005, finishing just 9-11 despite a measly 2.86 ERA.

The 35-year-old is struggling through his worst season as a pro. He is all but assured of finishing with his lowest win total since his rookie year in Atlanta, when he won five games in 12 appearances (eight starts). He is three losses shy of equaling his career high, set three years ago in Texas.

Millwood fared better in his most recent outing, allowing an earned run in six innings against the White Sox on Aug. 7. Prior to that, he had allowed five earned runs in each of his last five outings.

Baltimore’s starting pitchers have been brilliant under Showalter, posting a 2.30 ERA and eight quality starts in nine games. Brad Bergesen pitched a complete game two-hitter on Wednesday against the Indians, who have lost two straight to the worst team in the American League.

The Orioles are no longer playing that way, though. Outfielder Adam Jones is batting .405 in his last 11 games. Felix Pie is hitting .364 in his last 11 and Luke Scott is hitting .385 with four homers and 10 RBIs in the nine games since Showalter arrived.

Even rookie third baseman Josh Bell broke out with a 3-for-4 night on Wednesday. Prior to that, Bell had been 3-for-30 since being recalled July 31 following the trade of Miguel Tejada.

It’s up to Tribe starter Jeanmar Gomez to cool those bats. The 22-year-old rookie has allowed three runs in 17 1-3 innings since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus. He allowed a run in 5 1-3 innings in his most recent start, a no-decision against the Twins.

The Indians are headed in the opposite direction, losing four straight and nine of their last 11 at home.