Cleveland @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jul 16, 2011 ) Cleveland 5, Baltimore 6
THE STORY: The Baltimore Orioles managed to snap a nine-game losing skid Saturday with a 6-5 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Of course, Baltimore made everyone in Camden Yards squirm in their seats as a four-run lead nearly evaporated in the ninth inning. Regardless, a win is a win and the struggling Orioles will take them anyway they can. Baltimore will look to begin a winning streak Sunday when they host the Cleveland Indians in the finale of their four-game set.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Jeanmar Gomez (0-1, 4.91 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Mitch Atkins (0-0, 8.22).
With Mitch Talbot headed to the disabled list with a back strain, Gomez will be making his first start since May 5. The 23-year-old Venezuelan fared well in his lone career outing against the Orioles. He permitted one run on six hits in six innings to pick up the victory. Atkins will make his third appearance of the season for the Orioles. The 25-year-old was shelled by the Boston Red Sox in his last outing. Atkins permitted six runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings, but did not receive a decision in the 8-6 loss. Sunday will mark the first time he has faced the Indians in his career.
ABOUT THE INDIANS (49-43): Orlando Cabrera ripped a bases-clearing double in the ninth inning to bring Cleveland to within a run, but Michael Gonzalez retired Grady Sizemore to end the game. Michael Brantley, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run double in the sixth, has 16 hits in his last eight games. Cleveland saw its six-game winning streak over the Orioles come to an end. The Indians will continue their road trip with three games in Minnesota before returning home for nine games.
ABOUT THE ORIOLES (37-54): J.J. Hardy signed a three-year contract extension worth nearly $22 million Saturday. Hardy celebrated by leading off the first inning with a double and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Adam Jones. Nick Markakis had three hits - including a solo homer in the sixth - and scored three times Saturday. Markakis has hit safely in nine straight games, but he obviously has yet to face Gomez in his career. After Saturday's loss, Baltimore placed veteran designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero on the 15-day disabled list with a small fracture on his right hand. The 36-year-old Guerrero has been sidelined since being hit by a pitch on July 10.
FINAL PITCH: "We haven’t had music in a while," Baltimore third baseman Mark Reynolds, after rap music played in the clubhouse - a traditional sign of an Orioles' victory.