Indians beat Orioles to end losing streak
CLEVELAND (AP) - Fausto Carmona pitched six strong innings and
the Cleveland Indians ended their 11-game losing streak with a 4-2
victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
The Indians improved to 4-19 in September and avoided tying the
franchise record of 12 straight losses set in 1931. Luis Valbuena
homered and Carmona (4-12) won for the first time since Aug. 23.
The Orioles have lost eight consecutive games and center fielder
Felix Pie went down in the seventh inning with an injury to his
upper left leg. Pie fell to the ground in pain when he crossed
first base after he hit into a double play. He couldn't put any
weight on his leg as he was helped off the field.
Baltimore's skid is its longest since it dropped 10 in a row
Sept. 17-26, 2008.
Carmona allowed two runs and nine hits, struck out six and
walked one.
Michael Aubrey hit an RBI single in the second and Nick Markakis
homered in the sixth for Baltimore.
Valbuena's leadoff drive keyed a three-run fifth against rookie
right-hander David Hernandez (4-9). Rookie Lou Marson had an RBI
double and a throwing error by third baseman Melvin Mora allowed
the final run to score.
Kerry Wood pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 25
appearances.
Baltimore has lost nine straight games started by Hernandez, who
is 0-5 in the stretch and hasn't won since Aug. 11.
Marson also drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth off Matt
Albers.
NOTES: Markakis ended a 5-for-44 slump with his 17th homer. ...
The Orioles also will start rookies in the last two games of the
series, RHPs Jason Berken and Chris Tillman. ... Thursday was the
Orioles' final day off of the season. ... Indians SS Jhonny Peralta
was hitless in three at-bats and is in a 1-for-33 slump. ... Matt
LaPorta, who missed two games with hip inflammation, started at DH
and had two hits. Indians manager Eric Wedge said he could return
to first base Saturday. LaPorta started in place of Travis Hafner,
who rested.