Cleveland @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( May 15, 2010 ) Cleveland 8, Baltimore 2
The Cleveland Indians are hoping that former All-Star Jake Westbrook can continue on his most recent start in today’s finale of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Westbrook (1-2, 5.06 ERA) has been attempting to come back after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery. He earned his first victory since April 8, 2008, in his last start, going six innings and allowing just one run and five hits in a win over Kansas City.
The former ace of the Indians staff, Westbrook won 44 games during a three-season span (2004-06). He has a 3-1 record with a 4.80 ERA in his career against the Orioles.
Cleveland appeared headed for a third straight loss Saturday night before erupting for eight runs in the top of the ninth inning en route to an 8-2 win over Baltimore.
The Indians, who entered Saturday’s game as one of the worst power-hitting teams in the big leagues, received clutch home runs from Austin Kearns (a three-run shot off rookie closer Alfredo Simon that gave Cleveland a 4-2 lead) and Trevor Crowe (a two-run blast) in the ninth inning, preventing the Orioles from getting their fourth straight win.
After going the previous 17 innings without a single run, the Indians scored eight in one frame, their biggest inning of the season. Cleveland also banged out 14 hits, its best offensive performance in weeks.
Even with the two homers Saturday, the Indians only have 20 as a team. Only the Houston Astros (18) have hit fewer homers as a team.
Crowe had just been recalled a day earlier from Triple-A Columbus, replacing Andy Marte on the roster. Marte was placed on the disabled list with what the team called a “non-baseball issue.”
Baltimore manager Dave Tremblay will once again give the ball to beleaguered young righty David Hernandez (0-5, 5.84 ERA), who has lost his last 11 decisions dating to last season.
Hernandez is just two setbacks shy of the Orioles’ team record for consecutive losses (13 by Mike Boddicker in 1988).
But Tremblay has remained steadfast that he is not going to take Hernandez out of the rotation despite his troubles.
Hernandez has fared well against Cleveland in the past, pitching to a 3.00 ERA in two prior appearances. However, Hernandez has the same record against the Indians as he’s had against most teams. He’s 0-1 vs. the Indians and has a 4-15 career record with a 5.53 ERA.
The Orioles continue to get surprising offensive contributions from Ty Wigginton, who hit two solo homers in Saturday’s loss to give him 12 homers for the season, just one behind Chicago’s Paul Konerko for the American League lead.
The total already surpasses Wigginton’s home run total for 2009, when he hit 11.