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Masterson helps Indians down Orioles

Jul 2, 2012 - 12:24 AM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Justin Masterson pitched seven strong innings and the Cleveland Indians took the finale of a four-game set against the Orioles, 6-2.

Masterson (5-7) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on only five hits and did not walk any hitters. He also struck out seven Orioles for the Tribe, who won three games in the series.

The Indians picked up eight extra-base hits, including six against Orioles starter Brian Matusz (5-10), highlighted by solo home runs from Shelley Duncan and Aaron Cunningham.

"There were a lot of guys who put together big days," Duncan said. "We put a lot of runs on the board this series. It's almost like we started hitting like we're capable."

Matusz lasted only four-plus innings after allowing five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and three walks.

"Outings like that you can withstand here and there," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Consistently, when you have two or three days like that, it's, I don't want to say an energy sapper, but it kind of gets back to what makes you struggle as a team."

After the game, the Orioles optioned Matusz to Triple-A Norfolk. The 25-year- old left-hander went 0-5 with an. 8.44 earned run average in his last starts.

"My last five, six outings or so I just haven't been getting the job done," Matusz said. "Today was just really inconsistent. I had some signs of good pitches, just haven't been putting it together. It's killing the bullpen and makes it tough."

Duncan gave the Indians an early lead when he crushed a 1-1 fastball over the left-field fence in the second inning.

Cunningham jumped on a first-pitch fastball to start the third, driving it out to left field and giving the Tribe a two-run edge.

Cleveland exploded for three runs in the fourth after Jose Lopez, Duncan and Casey Kotchman opened the frame with three straight doubles. Jason Donald walked and Kotchman advanced to third on a passed ball before Lou Marson's sacrifice allowed Kotchman to come home and give Cleveland a 5-0 lead.

Baltimore chipped away in the middle innings when a Ryan Flaherty single and Adam Jones double drove a run in the fifth and sixth, respectively.

Cleveland got one back in the ninth after Asdrubal Cabrera doubled. Jason Kipnis followed with a single to give Cleveland a four-run lead.

Vinnie Pestano pitched a perfect eighth and Chris Perez worked around a one- out base hit in the ninth to keep the O's off the board and wrap up the series win.

Game Notes

The Indians recorded 46 hits in the last three games of the series...Before Sunday, the Indians lost four of their previous five series...Masterson has logged six-plus innings in 13 straight starts...Masterson has a 1.93 ERA (nine earned runs in 42 innings) in his last six starts...Jim Thome, making his Orioles debut, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts...By going 1- for-4, Baltimore first baseman Wilson Betemit extended his hitting streak to 11 games...In eight starts at Camden Yards, Matusz is 2-5 with a 5.57 ERA (26 earned runs in 42 innings)...In the 10 games where Matusz was charged with the loss, the Orioles have scored a total of nine runs while he was in the game...Prior to the game, Perez and Cabrera were selected to represent the Indians at the All-Star Game and Jones, Matt Wieters and Jim Johnson were chosen from the Orioles.