Alex Cobb finished what he started, plus farm notes

The Orioles have played two pretty solid games in Cleveland this weekend and they posted an impressive 4-2 win on Saturday afternoon to end the Indians' six-game win streak.

Right-hander Alex Cobb had another strong start. In fact, he pitched a complete-game five-hitter to improve to 4-15 with a 5.09 ERA. Cobb posted his fourth career complete game and his first nine-inning complete-game since a shutout versus Oakland on Aug. 23, 2012.

Cobb has posted five straight quality starts with a 2.06 ERA. He has six quality starts in his last seven games, with a 2.14 ERA. He has thrown seven innings or more in three straight starts. He's allowed two earned runs or fewer six times in seven outings.

When Cobb signed a four-year deal in March to pitch for the Orioles, he probably envisioned pitching for a contender. One that would get offense from players like Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop, and that pitchers like Darren O'Day, Brad Brach and Zach Britton would protect some of his late leads. But now he's on a very different team. Cobb seems just fine with that. He is a veteran who seems to be embracing helping young pitchers and young position players. He was effusive in his postgame praise last night for rookie catcher Austin Wynns.

Cobb threw his complete game needing just 100 pitches. By inning he threw eight, nine, 13, five, 13, 14, 15, 10 and 13. David Hess and Cobb have allowed four runs over 15 innings this weekend.

Farm notes: Triple-A Norfolk allowed just five runs over two games last night but lost both ends of a doubleheader to Scranton by 2-1 and 3-1 scores. Garabez Rosa homered in both games, but Norfolk is 1 1/2 games out in the International League wild card race.

The doubleheader was Norfolk's ninth of the year. Heading into Saturday's play, the Tides owned the best record in twinbills in the IL. Norfolk has swept four doubleheaders and split four others, going 12-4 in doubleheader games. The Tides are also set to play doubleheaders on Tuesday and Wednesday versus Charlotte.

The Tides are two wins shy of matching last season's win total of 66. Over his last 10 outings, Tim Melville has gone 2-0 with two saves and a 0.53 ERA, allowing one earned run in 17 innings. Lefty Donnie Hart has not allowed an earned run in his last 11 appearances with Norfolk, covering 12 2/3.

Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann made his second start for Double-A Bowie last night. Zimmermann allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings in a loss at Erie. He is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA for the Baysox. Zimmerman is a local product who grew up an Orioles fan and went to high school in Baltimore at Loyola Blakefield. He started his collegiate career with two seasons at Towson University before finishing with two years at Mount Olive College (N.C.) and then was a fifth-round pick for the Braves in the 2017 draft.

In addition to producing another quality start on Friday, Single-A Frederick lefty Alex Wells worked into the seventh inning for the fourth time in five starts. Retiring the first 13 he faced, the Australian did not allow a hit until the fifth. In his last six starts, Wells is 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA. He ranks sixth in the Carolina League in ERA and fourth in innings pitched, with 123 2/3.

A club that has excelled in tight games, Frederick has now won seven consecutive one-run contests and eight of its last 11 coming down to two runs or fewer. The Keys own the top winning percentage in the league (.633, 20-11) in one-run games.

Single-A Delmarva's biggest strength lies in its pitching staff. All three remaining opening day starters - Cameron Bishop, DL Hall, and Brenan Hanifee - boast sub-3.02 ERAs. The Shorebirds are 35-11 when their starter goes at least six innings and have notched 41 quality starts. Last night right-hander Jhon Peluffo added to that total, allowing two runs in 6 1/3 as the Shorebirds beat Rome 4-2.

Delmarva shortstop Cadyn Grenier has multi-hit games in three of his last four outings and is batting .389 (7-for-18) over his past five games. Before his two-hit game against Charleston on Wednesday, his last multi-hit contest came on July 22. Grenier is batting .198 in 32 Delmarva games.