The Baltimore Orioles finished off a seven-game road trip by taking two of three from the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
June began on a sour note for the Birds as they dropped three of four to the Houston Astros. Still looking to find a consistent offense, the Orioles scored more runs in three games than they did in four against the Astros.
The Cleveland series was highlighted by the return of All-Star catcher Matt Wieters who missed most of last season and the beginning of this season due to injury. His presence in the lineup provided a spark as he went 4-8 with a double, triple, home run and three RBIs in the two victories over the Indians.
After splitting the first two games of the Cleveland series, the Orioles won the finale 7-3. The Birds offense was supported by center fielder Adam Jones who hit his ninth homer of the year. Wieters chipped in with a triple and his first home run of the year. Travis Snider also helped the offensive attack with a two-run single in a three-run fourth to give the Orioles a 4-1 lead.
They added on single runs in the 5th, 7th and 9th innings to secure the victory. The game also saw the return of starter Bud Norris who had been out since May 10th with Bronchitis. Norris (2-4) struck out seven, walked two and surrendered one run in five innings of work.
The bullpen gave up two runs but settled down and helped the Orioles improve to (26-30).
The first game of the series, a 5-2 Baltimore victory and Wieters return, saw their starter, Chris Tillman, break a career-long six-game losing streak. He walked and struck out three while giving up two runs in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Wieters provided the offense, going 2-3 with two RBIs including his first double of the year. Jones went 2-4 with a solo homer in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie.
Closer Zach Britton came in and struck out two in the ninth to record his 15th save of the year.
In the middle game of the series, a 2-1 Cleveland win, the Birds could only manage Manny Machado’s ninth home run of the year. The offense was kept in check by a Cleveland pitching staff that recorded four innings (12) worth of strikeouts.
The Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez had his worst game of the year, but he managed to get out of trouble while only giving up one run despite walking a season-high six batters in five innings of work.
Reliever Brad Brach (3-2) came on in relief and a walk and a double later the Indians had a 2-1 lead which turned out to be the final margin of victory for the (27-29) Indians.
