The Baltimore Orioles took two of three from the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
Baltimore finished their nine game road trip 4-5 and after winning the three game set with the Los Angeles Angels they had a record-setting series with the Houston Astros.
In Texas, the Orioles were swinging for the fences and were swept for the first time this season. They really helped the Astros by striking out a MLB record 52 times in a three-game series. In their defense, one of the games did last 13 innings.
After splitting the first two games of the series with the Indians, the Orioles won the final game 6-4. After taking a 4-0 lead the Birds watched the Indians come storming back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning at 4-4.
Then the Oriole’s hero emerged. Hyun Soo Kim launched his first Major League home run over the right field fence to give his team a 5-4 lead.
Nolan Reimold added an insurance run by hitting a ninth inning solo homer to give the Birds a 6-4 lead. Closer Zach Britton came in and gave up two hits, but settled down and struck out the final two batters he faced while collecting his 14th save of the season.
Designated hitter Mark Trumbo got the party started with a bases clearing double in the first to give starter Chris Tillman a 3-0 lead. Unfortunately, Tillman gave the runs back by surrendering three homers. He allowed four runs, four hits while walking three and striking out three in six innings of work.
Thanks to Kim he improved to (7-1) with a 2.92 ERA.
In the first game of the series, another 6-4 Orioles victory, the Birds again began the game with a three run burst and again the Indians came back to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth.
Trumbo came to the rescue again by belting his 15th homer of the season, a two-run shot as part of another three run inning for the Birds. Manny Machado went 4-5 with two doubles and one RBI. Adam Jones, batting leadoff to shake things up after the Houston debacle, went 3-5.
Starter Mike Wright allowed six hits, struck out four and surrendered three runs while walking two in 4.2 innings of work.
The bullpen allowed one run and reliever Dylan Bundy (1-1) earned his first win of the year while Britton collected his 13th save of the season.
In the middle game of the series, it was the Indians that jumped out to a 7-0 lead as Birds starter Ubaldo Jimenez had his worst game of the season in a 11-4 loss. He allowed six runs, gave up five hits and three walks while striking out one in 1.2 innings of work.
The Orioles finished the road trip with a record of (27-20) and they now welcome the Boston Red Sox who they are battling for first place at Camden Yards for a four game series as part of a 10-game home stand.
