Indians, Tomlin fall to Orioles 5-2
BALTIMORE (AP) - The Cleveland Indians could have lamented their lack of offense. They could have bemoaned the two homers allowed by Josh Tomlin.
Instead, after their 5-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night, the Indians were most disappointed over a play that actually produced an out.
Though Chris Davis is known for his mammoth home runs, the hustle of the 230-pound slugger helped propel Baltimore past the AL Central leaders.
With runners at the corners and one out in the first inning, Davis hit a potential double-play grounder to second base. After the force at second, Davis beat the relay by a step to get an RBI and keep the inning alive.
"That's a play that needs to be made," said Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, who was tad slow on the trigger with his throw to shortstop Francisco Lindor. "We just didn't have enough urgency for the play."
Mark Trumbo followed with his major league leading 30th homer, a no-doubt shot to left for a 3-0 lead. That proved to be all the offense Baltimore needed.
Tomlin (10-3) gave up four runs in six-plus innings. He struck out eight, walked none and allowed seven hits in falling to 6-1 on the road.
Were it not for Davis' hustle, his line would have been much better.
"He deserved to win that game," Kipnis said. "They never should have had those three runs. He gave us a chance to come back and win after that first inning. The offense just didn't do our thing."
After earning only one win in his first 16 starts, Kevin Gausman (2-7) struck out seven and allowed only one runner past first base. The right-hander gave up four hits and walked three but was backed by three double plays.
Brad Brach surrendered a two-out, two-run single to Lonnie Chisenhall in the ninth before Zach Britton got the final out for his 32nd save. Britton tied Willie Hernandez of the 1984 Detroit Tigers for the longest save streak to start a season by a left-hander, according to STATS.
The AL East-leading Orioles will seek to complete a three-game sweep Sunday. Cleveland has scored three runs in 18 innings thus far.
Trumbo has homered in each of the first two games. Playing in his first season with Baltimore, the 2016 All-Star already has eight more home runs than last year and is just four short of matching his career high, set in 2013 with the Angels.
"He's been very valuable, a real consistent human being," Showalter said.
The Orioles improved to 35-14 at home and 18-6 against the AL Central.
Although Tomlin settled down after the rocky first inning, Pedro Alvarez chased the right-hander with a leadoff homer in the seventh, and Jonathan Schoop added an RBI single off Jeff Manship for a 5-0 lead.
Tomlin has given up 24 homers this season, matching a career high.
NEWCOMER
The Indians signed LHP Joe Thatcher to a minor league contract Saturday. The 34-year-old played in spring training with Cleveland but did not make the team. He pitched in the minors for the Dodgers until opting out of his contract in early June.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Indians: 3B Juan Uribe was not in the starting lineup after being plunked on the batting helmet above the left ear Friday night. He pinch hit in the ninth. ... RHP Zach McAllister (hip) pitched for Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, was to throw on the side Saturday and pitch again on Monday. "He says he feels really good," manager Terry Francona said.
Orioles: C Matt Wieters (foot) missed a fifth straight game. Manager Buck Showalter hopes to have him back Monday. ... RHP Darren O'Day (hamstring) will likely be activated from the DL on Sunday or Monday, Showalter said. ... RHP Ubaldo Jimenez was placed on the paternity leave list. His wife is due to give birth on Aug. 21 but could deliver early. ... OF Hyun Soo Kim (hamstring) is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie next week.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (9-8. 3.42 ERA) makes his 20th start of the season in the series finale Sunday. He's got three of Cleveland's five complete games.
Orioles: RHP Vance Worley (2-1, 3.16) gets his fourth start for Baltimore. He didn't make it out of the fifth inning in his last outing, a loss to the Yankees.