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Indians-Orioles Preview

Aug 27, 2009 - 3:44 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (55-70) at Baltimore (51-75), 7:05 p.m. EDT

A minor accident has given Cleveland Indians starter Aaron Laffey good reason to be hesitant about taking a bus to Camden Yards. Opposing hitters, meanwhile, probably aren't very eager to face the surging left-hander.

After watching his teammates shake off the collision, Laffey looks to win his fourth straight decision as the Indians open a four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.

Laffey (7-3, 3.42 ERA) was one of nine Cleveland players on a bus that was struck by a car in Kansas City on Wednesday. None of the players were injured, and they were loaded onto another bus that took them to Kauffman Stadium, where the Indians (56-70) beat the Royals 4-2 that evening.

Though he was on the bus with Laffey, David Huff ended up throwing six solid innings for Cleveland, which has won 14 of its last 24 games.

Laffey has played a large role in the Indians' recent success, going 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his last four starts. He gave up three runs in seven innings of Cleveland's 4-3, 11-inning loss to Seattle on Saturday night.

Laffey, a Maryland native, has never faced the Orioles.

Baltimore (52-75) will counter with David Hernandez (4-6, 4.35), who is 1-4 with a 6.56 ERA in his last five starts. The rookie right-hander allowed three runs and walked three in four innings as Baltimore lost 4-1 to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.

This will be Hernandez's first appearance against the Indians.

Hernandez will likely get his first chance to face veteran Indians slugger Travis Hafner, who is expected to be back in the lineup after getting a day off to rest his surgically repaired right shoulder.

"At times, my swing feels like it's better than it was the last two years, especially last year," Hafner told Cleveland's official Web site. "But if you're playing every day, you get into more of a good rhythm."

Hafner is hitting .352 with six homers and 32 RBIs in 33 games against the Orioles.

Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore is batting .196 in 27 games versus Baltimore but has been playing well in recent weeks.

Sizemore reached base four times - two hits, a walk and an error - and scored three runs Wednesday. He's hitting .321 over his last 21 games.

Baltimore avoided a three-game sweep with a 5-1 victory at Minnesota on Wednesday despite the absence of All-Star center fielder Adam Jones.

Jones, who has been a bright spot for an Orioles team that is all but assured its 12th straight losing season, has missed three straight games with a sore back. Baltimore manager Dave Trembley, though, said Jones may be ready for this series' opener.

"He feels much better and much improved. He said he wants to get home and sleep on his own bed," Trembley said.

Jones has had a breakout season, hitting .283 with 19 homers and 70 RBIs.

Felix Pie, who has been starting in center field for Jones, hit a solo home run to help Baltimore win for the fourth time in seven games. Pie is batting .353 with three homers and seven RBIs in his last 13 games.

Cleveland and Baltimore tied last season's series 4-4.