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May 16, 2010 - 3:46 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (13-20) at Baltimore (12-24), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Cleveland Indians hope Jake Westbrook's latest effort was an indication of good things to come for the veteran pitcher.

Coming off his first win in two years, the right-hander tries to help the visiting Indians to a series victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

Westbrook (1-2, 5.06 ERA) allowed one run and five hits in six innings of Cleveland's 8-2 win at Kansas City on Tuesday for his first victory since April 8, 2008.

"It's nice to get that first win and pitch well doing it," said Westbrook, who missed all last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2008.

The Indians hope more success will follow for their staff ace, who won 44 games from 2004-06.

"As long as he's healthy and feeling good and we don't see a dropoff in velocity from outing to outing, (we're satisfied)," manager Manny Acta said. "We already knew the last thing to come from him is his command. He's going to have to pitch through it."

The right-hander is 3-1 with a 4.80 ERA in seven starts against the Orioles, whom he hasn't faced since 2007.

Westbrook looks to help Cleveland (14-20) build on an 8-2 win over the Orioles on Saturday.

Austin Kearns' three-run homer highlighted an eight-run ninth inning for the Indians, who avoided a third straight loss.

Mark Grudzielanek and Shin-Soo Choo each added two hits for the Indians, who were limited to one run in their previous 17 innings before their ninth-inning rally Saturday.

"It's just a matter of being patient," Acta said.

In his first season with the Indians, Kearns is batting .333 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 25 games.

Trying for its second straight winning series, Cleveland looks to extend the recent struggles of Baltimore's scheduled starter David Hernandez.

Hernandez (0-5, 5.84) extended his losing streak to 11 games after he allowed five runs and four walks in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-1 loss to Seattle on Tuesday. The skid is longest active streak in the majors and two short of the Orioles record held by Mike Boddicker (1987-88).

Despite his struggles, manager Dave Trembley said the team plans to keep the second-year right-hander in the rotation.

"I think he probably feels like he's got to go out there and throw a shutout, and you can't blame him for that," said Trembley, who's team has lost 14 of 16 games started by Hernandez since he beat Oakland on Aug. 11.

Hernandez is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against Cleveland.

Ty Wigginton homered twice Saturday for the Orioles (12-25), who held a 2-0 lead and were on the verge of a season-high fourth victory before the Indians broke out in the ninth.

With 12 home runs, Wigginton has already surpassed his 2009 total of 11. Filling in for injured second baseman Brian Roberts, Wigginton is batting .314 on the season and has gone 10 for 23 in his last six games.