Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) – Brad Bergesen gave up just one run on two hits en route to the second complete game of his young career, as the Baltimore Orioles took down the Cleveland Indians, 3-1, in the second test of a three-game set from Progressive Field.
Bergesen (4-9) struck out four and walked two to record his first complete game since June 14, 2009 versus Atlanta. The 24-year-old snapped a career-long seven-game losing streak with Wednesday’s performance. It was his first win since beating Seattle on May 12.
“I did work behind in counts, I was a little sporadic early on,” Bergesen said. “But I really wanted to keep grinding it out and find that groove.”
Brian Roberts went 3-for-4 with a solo homer for the Orioles, who are 8-1 since Buck Showalter took over as manager. Luke Scott and Cesar Izturis each drove in a run.
Josh Tomlin (1-2), making his fourth career start in the big leagues, lasted just five frames, allowing three runs — two earned — on 10 hits for the Indians, who have lost four in a row.
Luis Valbuena knocked in the lone run for Cleveland, but failed to record an extra-base hit for the first time since June 2 at Detroit, a span of 62 game. It was the longest streak in the majors this year.
The Orioles got on the board in the first. Nick Markakis reached base when he grounded into a fielder’s choice and Ty Wigginton singled. Both runners advanced one base on a passed ball. Scott plated a run when he grounded out.
Baltimore added another run in the fourth to make it 2-0. With two outs, Felix Pie singled and Matt Wieters walked. Izturis then hit an RBI single.
Roberts led off the top of the fifth with a homer to right, ending a 12-pitch at-bat. Scott hit a two-out single later in the frame. He tried to score on Adam Jones’ double, but was thrown out at the plate to keep it a three-run game.
The Indians got their first hit of the contest in the home fifth. Shelley Duncan walked, moved to second on Jordan Brown’s groundout, and crossed the plate on Valbuena’s two-out single to right.
Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-out single in the ninth for Cleveland’s second hit of the night.
“I thought Bergesen threw a tremendous ball game,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He was very aggressive and threw a lot of first-pitch strikes. He had a lot enough movement on all of his pitches to get our guys out.”
The Orioles claimed their first series win in Cleveland since taking two of three during July of 2006…The Indians recalled pitcher Jess Todd from Triple-A Columbus and optioned pitcher David Huff to Columbus…Shin-Soo Choo saw an eight-game hit streak come to an end.