Orioles 4 - 3 Guardians
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  for this game

Orioles aim to extend win streak vs. Indians

Jul 22, 2012 - 2:07 PM

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(Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles will try for their fifth straight win overall when they take on the Cleveland Indians on Sunday afternoon in the third contest of a four-game series.

In a pitcher's duel, the Orioles prevailed on Saturday night, 3-1.

After giving up a first-inning solo home run to Shin-Soo Choo, Chris Tillman (2-1) settled in, pitching 6 2/3 innings while allowing just that one run on six hits while striking out four. The right-hander now has a 1.15 ERA in three starts this season.

Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his major league-leading 29th save of the year.

Zach McAllister (4-2) was also impressive despite earning the loss, going 7 2/3 innings and giving up five hits, no walks and three earned runs while striking out seven.

Jim Thome and Ryan Flaherty each homered for the second straight night for the Orioles. After passing Sammy Sosa on the all-time home run list on Friday night, Thome now sits alone in seventh place with 611 longballs.

"There's a lot of memories," Thome said in regards to playing his former team. "I've had great memories on that side and then coming in here as an opponent against them. Any time you come home, they say, it's very special. It's even more special to get the W's. That's the main thing. The bottom line is I played here a long time."

The Indians have now lost three in a row and six of their last eight. They've scored three runs or fewer six times during that stretch.

The Orioles will send Zach Britton to the mound on Sunday afternoon for his second start of the season.

After spending the beginning part of the season nursing a shoulder injury, Britton returned to the rotation on July 17, allowing six hits, four earned runs and a career-high six walks in a no-decision to the Twins.

The left-hander faced Cleveland once during his rookie season in 2011, allowing eight hits and five earned runs in six innings while taking the loss.

The Indians will go with right-hander Josh Tomlin, who has been largely ineffective this season with a 5-6 record and a 5.51 ERA.

Tomlin was saddled with the loss in his last outing on July 17, surrendering seven hits and four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings to Tampa Bay.

The 27-year-old earned the win against the Orioles on June 30 despite giving up five earned runs in six innings of work.

The Indians, who took three of four in Baltimore from June 28-July 1, have won nine of their last 14 versus the O's.






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