O's get Jones and Wieters homers, clutch hits to beat Cleveland 7-3

The Orioles offense looks a lot better when they get some clutch, two-out hits with runners on base. They got some today and Bud Norris appreciated that in his return to the team.

The Orioles added to a 1-0 lead with a three-run fourth inning and went to beat Cleveland 7-3 this afternoon to take two of three in the series. Cleveland had won 14 of 20 coming into this series.

The Orioles had scored six or more runs just once in the previous 16 games and were held to one run in Saturday's loss. But today, they produced a three-run rally in the fourth with none on. After singles by Jimmy Paredes and J.J. Hardy and a walk to Ryan Flaherty loaded the bases, Manny Machado's infield dribbler to third went for a single and made it 2-0. Then Travis Snider came up with a big two-run single to center for a 4-0 edge. Snider had one RBI in his previous 27 games.

Adam Jones' solo homer to left center in the top of the first had provided a 1-0 lead. It was Jones' ninth homer and third in the last four games. In the fifth, Matt Wieters tripled and scored on a Chris Davis sac fly. A Paredes RBI single made it 6-1 in the seventh.

Wieters connected in the ninth for a solo homer off Zach McAllister to make it 7-2. He hit a 97 mph fastball on an 0-1 pitch for his first homer since May 1, 2014 against Pittsburgh. Wieters went 2-for-5 and is 5-for-12 in his first three games since coming off the disabled list Friday.

Their seven runs are the most since the Orioles scored eight on May 22 and the 12 hits were the Orioles' most since May 28. Six players drove in runs and of the Orioles' seven runs were scored with two outs.

In need of a good outing, Norris picked up the win to improve to 2-4 with an ERA of 8.63. He went five innings, allowing four hits and one run with two walks and seven strikeouts to tie his season high. Norris threw 85 pitches, 50 for strikes, in his first big league outing since May 10. He had been on the DL with bronchitis.

Norris, who allowed three or more runs in all of his six previous starts, pitched out a few jams today as the Indians went 1-for-7 against him with runners in scoring position.

The Orioles went 3-4 on this road trip and improved to 11-18 on the road, 20-12 when they score first, 14-9 in day games and to 26-30 for the season.

Now the Orioles take Monday off and head home for an eight-game homestand that begins Tuesday against Boston when Miguel Gonzalez (5-4, 3.54) faces former O's prospect Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0, 0.61 ERA).

On the farm today: Double-A Bowie's Terry Doyle pitched a complete-game, seven-hit shutout as the Baysox beat Portland 5-0 to complete a three-game sweep. Doyle, who threw 111 pitches, is now 5-1 with an ERA of 2.61. The Baysox (31-25) have pitched back-to-back shutouts and held Portland scoreless the last 26 innings of the series.

Before Doyle's outing today, the last complete-game shutout by a Baysox pitcher was by Tommy Hunter on Aug. 27, 2012. Bowie completed a 5-1 road trip where the Baysox pitchers allowed seven runs.

Triple-A Norfolk won 4-1 at Charlotte to improve to 32-24 and move into first place. Mike Wright gave up one run over six innings to improve to 4-0 with an ERA of 2.45.