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Aug 28, 2009 - 5:15 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Cleveland (56-70) at Baltimore (52-75), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Cleveland Indians essentially bowed out of the race for the postseason when they made several moves near the trade deadline designed to help them more in future seasons than in 2009.

While a playoff push isn't imminent, the recent play of some of its young players has helped Cleveland thrive despite the deadline deals.

After helping their team pull out a late victory, Matt LaPorta and Andy Marte look to continue their hot streaks Friday night when the Indians take on the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Cleveland (57-70) struggled out of the gate, eventually leading to the trades of Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Mark DeRosa and Ryan Garko as the team prepared to build a contender sometime down the line.

However, the Indians have to be pleased with the way they've played despite the departure of some of their top players. They've won five of six to improve to 20-12 since July 23.

That's partially thanks to LaPorta and Marte, who rallied the team to a 5-4 victory over Baltimore on Thursday night. With Cleveland down to its last out and trailing by a run, LaPorta singled to center off Baltimore closer Jim Johnson. Marte followed with a go-ahead two-run homer.

"The two at-bats there in the ninth inning by the kids, LaPorta and Marte, were obviously huge for us," manager Eric Wedge said. "Both were long at-bats, tough at-bats, against a guy out there who was throwing the ball good."

The 24-year-old LaPorta, called up from the minors Aug. 19, is hitting .333 with a home run, five doubles, five RBIs and seven runs scored during an eight-game hitting streak.

Marte, 25, is batting .414 with two homers, eight RBIs and five runs scored during his own eight-game streak. He was with Triple-A Columbus until making his season debut in the majors July 28.

While the Indians are surging, the Orioles (52-76) have lost nine of their last 11 home games.

Baltimore will try to bounce back Friday against Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona (3-8, 5.92 ERA), who's hoping to build on his first major league win in more than three months.

The right-hander, a 19-game winner in 2007, was 2-6 with a 7.42 ERA in 12 starts before getting sent to the minors June 5.

He's been solid since his return July 31, going 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA. The win came Sunday, when he limited Seattle to one run and five hits while striking out a season-high eight in seven innings of a 6-1 victory, his first since May 14.

"Fausto's stuff has always been good, but he's doing a better job of monitoring himself," Wedge said. "He controls his emotions. He was more of a thrower two years ago. Now, he's more efficient."

After going 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA against the Orioles in 2007, Carmona was 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA in two games against them last year. He's facing them for the first time in 2009.

Baltimore will counter with Jason Berken (3-11, 6.49), seeking his first home win since his major league debut May 26. He's 0-6 in eight starts at Camden Yards since.

Berken won on the road Sunday, holding the Chicago White Sox to three runs in 5 2-3 innings to beat them 5-4. The right-hander has never faced Cleveland.