Cleveland @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2012 ) Cleveland 7, Baltimore 2

The Cleveland Indians avoided falling below .500 on Thursday, busting out with three home runs to take the series opener, 7-2, at the slumping Baltimore Orioles. Indians manager Manny Acta held a closed-door meeting prior to Thursday’s opener and encouraged his team to stay positive following a five-game slide. The Orioles could use a meeting of their own. The surprise team of the first two months, Baltimore has dropped seven of nine.

Baltimore’s problems are largely due to an offense that has managed an average of 1.6 runs over the last nine games. J.J. Hardy provided the only runs with a two-run blast on Thursday while Brian Roberts went hitless for the fourth straight game and Chris Davis’ slump reached 1-for-35 over the past 10 contests. The Indians were having their own hitting problems during their five-game slide but made the most of their opportunities against the Orioles. Asdrubal Cabrera and Johnny Damon each hit three-run homers in the win.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), MASN2 (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Derek Lowe (7-6, 4.28 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Jake Arrieta (3-9, 5.55)

Lowe is struggling with his consistency of late, putting up three quality starts in his last six turns while allowing a total of 22 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings over the other three. The veteran sinkerballer was decent at Houston last Sunday, allowing three runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, but got little support in a loss.

Arrieta has been solid over his last three starts, responding to a brief demotion to the bullpen by going 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He struck out five and allowed one run over six innings in a no decision against Washington last Sunday. Arrieta has made two starts against Cleveland in his career, going 1-0 despite an 8.18 ERA. Cabrera is 3-for-5 with a homer off Arrieta.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Orioles will pluck Dana Eveland out of the bullpen for his second start of the season on Saturday.

2. Cleveland C Carlos Santana (back) sat out Thursday’s opener but is expected back in the lineup as soon as Friday.

3. Indians DH Travis Hafner (knee) is on track to be activated from the disabled list on Monday.