Baltimore stops Indians win streak at 5: Beat Tribe 6-1.

Anthony Reyes continued his strike-pitching ways in his second outing with the Indians, throwing 101 pitches, but leaving after six down by a 2-1 score.  Cleveland would eventually lose 6-1, giving up four in the ninth. 

The Indians posted a four-spot in the first inning in the first two meetings with the Baltimore Orioles, but apparently nobody posted the memo to keep ‘em coming for Reyes.

Reyes final numbers?  Six innings, two hits given up and two earned runs, no K’s, two walks, and no chance for a win.  Strikes to balls was about a 2-1 ratio.  Reyes spent a lot of time ahead in the count, many times 0-2, but had a hard time getting the third one past Baltimore hitters.

The Indians were gunning for their sixth win in a row and bragging rights to their longest winning streak of the season after tying five in a row on Tuesday.

Baltimore took the lead in the second on a home-run by Aubrey Huff.  They’d take a 2-0 lead shortly thereafter.  Millar walked following the Huff homer.  Luke Scott singled Millar to second. 

Hernandez grounded out, but moved up both runners in the process on a bullet shot that Andy Marte let trickle away far enough where he couldn’t tag third base and take out lead runner Millar.  The miscue ended up costing the Indians a second run, as Payton grounded out to Cabrera at second, scoring Millar. 

The Indians offense just couldn’t seem to get on track against Guthrie, but did manage a run in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of doubles by Marte and Sizemore, the second scoring Marte with two out.

Rafael Betancourt came on for the Indians and pitched two innings of shutout ball, although he did get himself into a jam in the eighth, giving up a walk, a single, and a fly out that put a runner on third with one out before getting a foul out and a ground-out, holding Baltimore to just the one-run lead.

Guthrie left after seven, relieved by Cherry.  Cherry, roughed up a bit one day ago, got Cabrera on a ground-out, and struck out Sizemore before issuing a free pass to pinch hitter Ben Francisco.  Shoppach was the next guy up, and on a 2-2 pitch, the Indians sent Francisco toward second.  Shoppach fouled it off, and Francisco jogged back. 

The Tribe stayed aggressive, sending Francisco again, Shoppach fouling off another one.  The next pitch Francisco did not take off, and the 2-2 slider was in the dirt, allowing Francisco the easy pass to second.  Shoppach missed the 3-2 low ball, and was thrown out at first after the ball skipped away from catcher Hernandez, finishing off the Indians in the eighth.

Brendan Donnelly took over for Betancourt in the ninth, and allowed Hernandez a single right off the bat.  The next batter Payton dropped a flyball on the third base line in front of Choo and behind Marte, putting runners on first and second with nobody out.  Juan Castro came up trying to bunt the runners over. 

He fouled off the first two bunt attempts, wondering what the Orioles would try next.  Castro squared off and got the bunt down, but Garko was practically standing on top of him and threw to third picking off lead runner Hernandez.  Brian Roberts grounded into a fielders’ choice, getting Castro at second. 

Nick Markakis was next.  Being seven for eleven in the series thus far, Donnelly tip-toed around Markakis, working up a 3-2 count.  Donnelly threw a fastball straight down the pike, and Markakis drilled it right back at him, making Donnelly dive for cover and scoring Payton from third. 

Next batter Melvin Mora looped on into right-center, putting runners on first and third with Aubrey Huff due up.  Huff blistered a double down the first base line, scoring two and chasing Donnelly.  Juan Rincon came on and immediately threw a wild pitch that scored Mora and put Huff on third, making it a 6-1 lead.  The Indians finally registered the last out on a fly-ball to right. 

Indians pitching did not record a single strikeout during the game, prompting announcer Rick Manning to dig into the archives and find out that hadn’t happened since April of 1994.

Jhonny Peralta would get the fifth Indians hit in the bottom of the ninth, but the Tribe’s five game winning streak was dead in the water with the 6-1 loss.

Guthrie picked up the win for Baltimore.  Reyes dropped to 1-1 with the Indians, taking the loss. 

Zach Jackson will make his Indians debut on Thursday, called up to take Paul Byrd’s spot in the rotation.  Daniel Cabrera pitches for the Orioles.  Jacksonis a lefty, and was called up instead of Aaron Laffey for the start.