A three-RBI night by Austin Jackson gave Indians starter Mike Clevinger just enough cushion to go a solid five innings, as the Indians secured a series victory with a 6-3 win over the Orioles on Thursday night at Camden Yards.
Clevinger, who was recalled from Triple-A Columbus prior to Thursday’s game, was charged with two runs on six hits while throwing 100 pitches. After Clevinger’s exit, the Indians’ bullpen shut the Orioles down, allowing just three hits in the final four innings.
“I was feeling too good at first,” Clevinger said. “It was almost like I was flying open because everything felt really fluid and everything was moving pretty quick toward the plate. Then once I finally kind of reset and calmed down after the second, I … kind of like collected myself and I’m glad I got through.”
Jackson sparked the Indians in the second inning with an RBI triple to right-center field to tie the game after Orioles right fielder Seth Smith launched his sixth career leadoff home run. Yan Gomes added an RBI single in the second, and Jackson delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the third off Orioles starter Wade Miley, who was charged with four runs on eight hits over five-plus innings.
“We kept coming at [Miley],” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I mean, both pitchers the pitch count was pretty high. … We had been in their bullpen, and so in a four-game series, you feel like if you can get in there, it gives you a better chance.”
In the sixth, Erik Gonzalez sent a solo shot to left-center field off Orioles reliever Richard Bleier for the Indians’ fifth run of the night, giving Baltimore its 19th consecutive game with at least five runs allowed. The modern era MLB record for consecutive games with at least five runs allowed is 20 by the 1924 Phillies.
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