The Indians and Orioles lit up the scoreboard Friday night, but it was the Orioles who got the win in the 9-8 offensive duel.
The first inning was a rough one for the Indians as they committed two errors. The first was a throwing error by Casey Kotchman that put Baltimore’s Brian Roberts on first base. The second was a fielding error by Asdrubal Cabrera on a J.J. Hardy hit up the middle that scored Roberts.
The Orioles tacked on two more runs in the first to go ahead 3-1. Tough break for the Indians’ Lonnie Chisenhall who was hit on the right wrist in the fifth inning. X-Rays determined he has a fracture and will be out of action for a while.
Indians starter Derek Lowe pitched five and one-third innings, giving up six hits and allowing seven runs, only four of which were earned. The play of the game for the Orioles was a three-run home run by Matt Wieters in the sixth. The homer gave the Orioles a 7-5 lead. Wieters went one-third with three RBI.
Rather than holding him for a save opportunity, the Indians gave Chris Perez a chance at a win by sending him to the mound in the eighth, down 8-7. Perez gave up two hits including a home run to Xavier Avery that gave the Orioles a 9-7 lead. The home run was not only Avery’s first of the season, but it was also the first home run given up by Perez this season.
Game 3 of the four-game series is Saturday at 4:05 p.m. Josh Tomlin (3-5) will start for the Indians and Dana Eveland (0-0) will get the start for Baltimore.
— Fox 8 Sports intern Gabriel Kramer contributed to this report.
