Indians beat Orioles 6-2 behind Masterson

BALTIMORE – Justin Masterson pitched seven innings of five-hit ball, Shelley Duncan homered and hit two doubles, and the Cleveland Indians beat the skidding Baltimore Orioles 6-2 Sunday.

Aaron Cunningham also homered for the Indians, who took three of four from the Orioles. Cleveland totaled 55 hits in the four games, including eight for extra bases in the finale. The Indians lost four their five previous series, including three straight on the road.

Jim Thome went 0 for 4 in his Baltimore debut. Acquired Saturday in a trade with Philadelphia, the 41-year-old slugger struck out twice and grounded out twice against the team with which he broke into the majors in 1991.

Masterson (5-7) retired the first 12 batters he faced and earned his first road win in four tries since May 3. The right-hander gave up two runs, one earned,, struck out seven and walked none.

All-Star selection Adam Jones drove in a run and scored one for the Orioles, who have lost five of six and nine of 12.

Baltimore starter Brian Matusz (5-10) didn't make it out of the fifth inning and lost his fifth straight start. The struggling left-hander allowed five runs, four earned, seven hits and three walks in four-plus innings. In his two previous career starts against Cleveland, Matusz was 1-0 with an 0.64 ERA.

Matusz has allowed 20 earned runs and 40 hits over 21 1-3 innings during his losing streak.

Cleveland, which came into the series 5-16 against left-handed starters, beat lefties Wei-Yin Chen, Dana Eveland and Matusz.

Matusz was replaced by Miguel Gonzalez, who was recalled earlier in the day to fortify an overworked bullpen. The rookie right-hander struck out five and gave up one run in 4 1-3 innings.

Duncan put the Indians up 1-0 in the second with his sixth home run, and Cunningham added a solo shot in the third. Doubles by Jose Lopez, Duncan and Casey Kotchman, along with a sacrifice fly by Lou Marson, made it 5-0 in the fourth.

Baltimore got an unearned run in the fifth. After Jones reached on a bad-hop grounder to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera that was ruled an error, Ryan Flaherty lined a two-out RBI single to left.

The Orioles closed to 5-2 in the sixth when J.J. Hardy singled and scored on a double by Jones. But Baltimore got only two hits the rest of the way.

Cleveland added a run in the ninth on a double by Cabrera and an RBI single by Jason Kipnis.

NOTES: Indians 3B Lonnie Chisenhall underwent surgery Saturday to repair a fractured bone in his right forearm. The team says he can resume baseball activities in 10-12 weeks. ... The Orioles optioned OF Xavier Avery and RHP Tommy Hunter to Norfolk. ... Baltimore's Wilson Betemit extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... Cleveland improved to 16-0 on the road when leading after six innings. ... Baltimore went 3-6 on its final homestand until July 13-15.