Orioles 4 - 6 Guardians
Final
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Orioles close trek in finale with Indians

Sep 4, 2013 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles try to end what has been a disappointing road trip on a winning note Wednesday when they play the rubber match of their three-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Baltimore fell to 3-5 on the trek Tuesday, as Ubaldo Jimenez spun six shutout innings and Asdrubal Cabrera and Yan Gomes each knocked in two runs to power Cleveland past the O's, 4-3.

Jimenez (10-9) scattered four hits and two walks while striking out four to snap a two-start skid.

Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley each added a double and a run scored for the Indians, who have won two of their last three on the heels of a five-game slide.

"We did a lot of good things tonight," Cleveland manager Terry Francona remarked. "We played a nice crisp game. Everyone contributed and that's the way we have to play."

Cleveland did all of its damage against Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (15-5), who gave up four runs on five hits and as many walks over 5 1/3 frames to absorb the loss.

Nate McLouth launched a three-run homer in the ninth for the Orioles, who lost for the fifth time in their last eight games.

"If he can get those off-speed pitches over for strikes early in the count, like he did tonight, he's tough," McLouth said of Jimenez. "We just couldn't get to him."

Heading to the hill for the Orioles on Wednesday will be lefty Zach Britton, who hasn't pitched in the majors since July 9. He was 2-3 with a 4.76 ERA for the O's earlier in the year, but was 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA in his last four starts with Triple-A Norfolk.

"Another opportunity to come up here and show that I've made adjustments," said Britton, who tossed six scoreless innings in his last trip to Cleveland. "Hopefully, (I'll) give this team some innings and give the other starters a little breather, which is nice in September."

With Britton in the mix, Baltimore moved all of its starters back a day and will utilize a six-man rotation.

"This just fit better where we are, physically, right now, but I told all the guys that we'll revisit it after (Sept.) 9th," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. ''They understand that we're going to put our best foot forward in these final 25 or 26 games."

Cleveland, meanwhile, will counter with righty Zach McAllister, who is 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA. McAllister had a three-start winning streak stopped on Friday in Detroit, as the Tigers ripped him for five runs and six hits in just 3 2/3 innings. He also walked four batters in the loss.

"I just wasn't aggressive in the strike zone," McAllister said. "I fell behind, and they were able to put balls in play when they knew fastballs were coming and they didn't miss them."

McAllister is 1-1 in two starts versus the O's with a 3.38 ERA.

Baltimore has split six games with the Indians this season.






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