Brantley has big night in Indians' win over O's

Baltimore, MD – Michael Brantley had four RBI to help lift the Cleveland Indians over the Baltimore Orioles, 5-2, in the opener of a four-game set at Camden Yards.

Brantley finished 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, while Nick Swisher also collected two hits along with an RBI for the Indians, who have won nine of their last 12.

Ubaldo Jimenez (6-4) lasted 5 1/3 innings for Cleveland, yielding two runs on eight hits while fanning six. He has allowed just two runs or less in nine of his last 11 outings and now has a 4-1 record in road starts.

"We beat a very good team," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "It's one of the best lineups we've seen yet this year. Ubaldo navigated his way through. Our bullpen was phenomenal."

Zach Britton (1-2), making his third start of the season, surrendered three runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in five frames to take the loss.

Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters each had solo homers for the Orioles, losers of four straight.

The O's jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after Markakis had a two-out home run to dead center in the first.

Wieters led off the fourth inning with a shot almost identical to Markakis' blast to make it a two-run game.

Britton was in full control until the sixth inning came around.

With the Indians trailing, 2-0, Jason Kipnis doubled to the right field corner to begin the frame. Swisher followed that up with a single up the middle to score Kipnis. Carlos Santana's line drive double put runners on second and third and Mark Reynolds was intentionally walked to load the bases for Brantley, who delivered a two-run single to center that put Cleveland in front, 3-2.

Tommy Hunter relieved Britton and escaped the inning with no more damage done, putting down three straight batters.

"We would have liked to keep it at 3-2 but we weren't able to," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "If our starters can't go far into the game than our bullpen can't get much rest."

After a Reynolds single in the eighth, Brantley smashed a ball over the right field wall off Darren O'Day to give Cleveland a three-run cushion.

Vinnie Pestano allowed the tying run to come to the plate in the ninth but was able to get Manny Machado to line out to end the game and collect his fourth save of the year.

Game Notes

The Orioles optioned Freddy Garcia to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday and recalled pitcher Kevin Gausman ... Cleveland improved to 7-17 against teams from the A.L. East this season ... Baltimore finished 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position ... Kipnis has reached base safely in 26 consecutive games ... The Indians' 59 steals this season are 2nd-most in the A.L. behind Boston (60) ... Cleveland was 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position.