Baltimore, MD – There must be something in the harbor in Baltimore that woke up Cleveland's bats.
Jose Lopez had a career-high five hits, Lou Marson had a career-high four hits and fell a homer shy of the cycle, and the Indians pounded out a season-best 19 hits en route to an 11-5 drubbing of the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
In the 74 games coming into this four-game set, Cleveland had yet to post a game with more than 15 hits. In the last two games, however, the Indians have posted 16 and 19 hits, respectively.
"I'm getting consistent at-bats, good opportunity and I feel good right now," Marson said. "I'm just trying to get quality at-bats and trying to see the ball. I don't want to talk about it. I just want to keep swinging it."
Shin-Soo Choo homered and reached base five times -- including four hits -- while Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits in the victory.
Josh Tomlin (4-5) won despite his continuing struggles. He allowed five runs in six innings, the fourth time in six June starts he's allowed at least five.
Chris Davis homered, and Adam Jones doubled twice for the Orioles, who showed after the game that despite the loss, they are still trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 1997.
Baltimore bolstered its offense for the stretch run by acquiring designated hitter Jim Thome from Philadelphia. Coincidentally enough, Thome was on the Indians team that opposed the Orioles the last time the team played in the postseason.
"I think it's exciting. Thome is a guy I loved watch play growing up, and I had a lot of respect for," Davis said. "I'm excited to have him here not only as a player, but as a mentor."
Dana Eveland (0-1) didn't last long in the start, yielding five runs in 3 2/3 innings. Tommy Hunter also allowed five runs in defeat, but it took him only 1 2/3 frames.
The Orioles are probably lucky the score was as it was since the Indians stranded 16 runners.
Lopez got Cleveland on the board with an RBI single in the opening inning that bounced off of third base. The Indians loaded the bases with one out later in the frame, but couldn't push another run across.
Choo doubled the lead with a two-out homer in the second, though Baltimore got on the board in the third with a Brian Roberts sacrifice fly.
The runs started to come in bunches in the fourth.
Marson singled to start, and Choo worked a one-out walk. Cabrera's single scored Marson, and Jason Kipnis' RBI groundout ended Eveland's afternoon. Hunter came on and allowed a run to score on Lopez's infield single before getting out of the jam.
Baltimore kept the game close with Davis' three-run homer for a 5-4 game in the home half, but the Indians kept coming with three more runs in the fifth.
Marson started the rally again with a one-out triple, and the Indians sent five men to the plate when there were two outs. Choo scored Marson with a single, and Cabrera followed with an RBI double. After Hunter intentionally walked Kipnis, who went hitless, Lopez singled to bring home Cabrera for an 8-4 game.
Shelley Duncan homered leading off the sixth, and Choo added an RBI single later in the inning to extend the lead to six.
The Orioles scored one in the bottom half on a Matt Wieters' fielder's choice groundout, and the Indians capped the scoring on Marson's fourth hit of the day, a two-out RBI single in the ninth.
Game Notes
The Indians, who are now 39-38, have not been below .500 since April 14 (3-4)...Cleveland is still only 4-9 on Saturdays, the worst of any day of the week. They finish June with a 12-15 record...Despite the 19 hits, three of the Indians' nine batters on Saturday had no hits (Kipnis, Casey Kotchman, Aaron Cunningham)...The Orioles went 13-13 in June and still have not had a losing month this season.
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