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Indians-Orioles Preview

May 15, 2010 - 4:45 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (13-19) at Baltimore (11-24), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Corey Patterson's return to the major leagues has provided a spark for the Baltimore Orioles.

The veteran outfielder looks to further help the Orioles as they try for a season-high fourth straight victory Saturday night against the visiting Cleveland Indians.

After playing with four different teams over the last three seasons, Baltimore signed the 30-year-old Patterson to a minor league contract last month after Seattle released him following spring training. Though he wasn't in the Orioles' plans a month ago, he's been a key to their recent success.

In his second stint with Baltimore (12-24), Patterson is 6 for 13 with four runs scored in three games - all wins - since being called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday. He had three hits in the Orioles' 8-1 win over Cleveland on Friday, and made a leaping catch at the wall to deny Shin-Soo Choo a home run.

Patterson also threw out the potential tying run for the final out of a 6-5 triumph over Seattle on Thursday.

"It's not just going to be one person," Patterson told the Orioles' official website of getting the team back on track. "It's still going to be a total team effort. What we've got to do is just pick each other up."

While Patterson's presence continues to boost the Orioles, Luke Scott also has been a major contributor during their three-game winning streak.

Scott, who had three hits Friday, is 7 for 13 with seven RBIs in his last three games. He's 10 for 18 with five RBIs in his last four against Cleveland.

After Jeremy Guthrie allowed two hits over eight innings Friday, the Orioles hope Brian Matusz (2-3, 4.91 ERA) can avoid a fourth straight loss when he takes the ball in this contest.

The left-hander allowed a season-high six runs and nine hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 6-0 loss at Minnesota on Sunday.

In his only career appearance against Cleveland on Aug. 30, Matusz allowed a run and four hits while striking out eight in seven innings of the Orioles' 5-2 win.

Looking to avoid a third straight loss, the Indians (13-20) counter with Mitch Talbot (4-2, 3.43).

The right-hander, who spent 2009 in the minors with Tampa Bay, got a win in his last outing despite giving up four runs and four walks in five innings of a 7-4 victory over Detroit on Sunday.

"It really wasn't me out there," Talbot told the Indians' official website.

Talbot didn't get a decision of his only start against Baltimore as he allowed three runs in 4 1-3 innings on Sept. 23, 2008 with the Rays.

Travis Hafner had two hits and Jhonny Peralta drove in the lone run Friday for Cleveland, which was held to three hits after recording at least 10 in each of its previous four games.

Hafner, a lifetime .346 hitter versus the Orioles, is 11 for 26 in his last eight games overall.