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Orioles try to stop the bleeding in Cleveland

Apr 15, 2011 - 2:31 PM (Sports Network) - So much for Baltimore's hot start.

The Orioles have dropped four in row since winning four straight and six of seven games to begin the new campaign, and will kick off a three-game series in Cleveland Friday night.

Baltimore lost both meetings with the New York Yankees in a rain-shortened series in the Bronx, most recently suffering a 6-5 loss in 10 innings on Thursday. Jorge Posada's home run off of Kevin Gregg to start the bottom of the ninth inning tied the game and Nick Swisher plated Mark Teixeira on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th to win it.

"There's no self pity," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "It's a tough, competitive place in the American League East."

Mike Gonzalez (0-1) was on the hill for the Orioles in the bottom of the 10th and absorbed the loss. Jake Arrieta started for the O's and allowed three runs and five hits over six innings for the no-decision. Nick Markakis hit a two- run homer and ended with three hits and three RBI in defeat.

Vladimir Guerrero had two hits and knocked in a run for Baltimore, while Cesar Izturis went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

Zach Britton will put his unbeaten record on the line when he takes the mound for the slumping Orioles tonight. The first-year lefty held Tampa Bay in check with six innings of one-run ball on April 3 before tossing seven shutout frames in a 5-0 victory versus Texas last Saturday.

Britton will get his first taste of Cleveland Friday night.

The Indians are a solid 8-4 so far in 2011, but lost the last two meetings of a three-game series in Anaheim, including Wednesday's 4-3 defeat in 12 innings. Shin-Soo Choo finished 1-for-3 with two RBI, while Indians starter Carlos Carrasco allowed three runs on five hits in seven innings. He also struck out five in the no-decision.

"Today's game we had very good pitching," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "Carrasco threw a tremendous ball game."

Indians reliever Chad Durbin was saddled with the loss for giving up a sac fly to Jeff Mathis, who plated Vernon Wells with two outs for the game-winning run in the home half of the 12th.

Acta will hand the ball to Justin Masterson tonight in hopes of the righty earning his third win in three starts this season. Masterson improved to 2-0 with a 1.35 earned run average by holding Seattle to one run and four hits through 6 1/3 innings of a 2-1 Cleveland victory last Saturday.

Masterson, who threw seven innings of one-run ball in a win versus the White Six on April 3, is only 2-3 with a 6.14 ERA in eight career games (4 starts) against the Orioles.

Baltimore and Cleveland split six meetings a year ago. The Indians have won four of six home games versus the Orioles.