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Guthrie, Orioles snap five-game winning streak of Indians

Aug 14, 2008 - 3:31 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Jeremy Guthrie has gone from a first-round bust to an emerging ace.

Guthrie pitched seven strong innings and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-1, on Wednesday night.

Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff each had two RBI as Baltimore snapped the Indians' five-game winning streak.

In his first start against his former club, Guthrie held the Indians to one run on four hits while striking out four batters.

"It always feels good to get a win," Guthrie said. "I just tried to block everything out. I am happy I pitched well against a tough lineup."

"It was weird seeing him in a different uniform," said Ryan Garko, who was Guthrie's teammate both at Stanford and coming up through the Indians' organization. "It is the first time we haven't been in the same uniform. He looked like the same Jeremy I have seen my whole life."

Guthrie (10-8) was drafted by the Indians in the first round in 2002 and was considered one of the Indians' top-prospects. However, he ended up only starting one game in 16 appearances with the Indians and was claimed off waivers by Baltimore prior to the 2007 season, where he blossomed into the pitcher the Indians thought he would be.

"Every time (Guthrie) goes out, he is making a statement that he is a legitimate, top-of-the-order-starter in either league," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "And the guy still has upside."

Guthrie finished last season with a 7-5 record and a 3.70 ERA. After a slow start this year, Guthrie has turned it on of late, winning a career-high four starts in a row with an ERA of 1.23.

"We like seeing him out there," Huff said. "It seems like it is quality start after quality start with him. Every time he is out there he gives us a chance to win."

Baltimore scored four runs in the ninth to take the suspense out of the game.

Markakis, who is 8-for-12 in the series so far, drove in a two runs with a two-out single and Huff followed with an RBI double down the right field line. Markakis capped the scoring as he scored on a wild pitch by Juan Rincon, who relieved an ineffective Brendan Donnelly.

"It is great to see a young player come through like that," said Huff of Markakis. "He knows what he wants to do."

Cleveland starter Anthony Reyes had his second strong start as a member of the Indians. The righthander, who was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals on July 26, yielded two runs on two hits in six innings.

"There is still room for improvement," Reyes said. "I am trying to get better every time out."

Reyes did a good job of keeping the ball down as he recorded 14 of his 18 outs via the ground ball, but a pitch up in the second hurt him.

Huff led off the second with his team-leading 25th home run of the season, blasting Guthrie's 2-1 pitch over the wall in right-center to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

"I got the ball up," Reyes said. "I fell behind a little and got too much of the plate."

Baltimore added another run later in the inning on an RBI groundout by Jay Payton.

Grady Sizemore drove in Cleveland's only run with an RBI double in the fifth.