Post-game Notes: Tribe tops O's

Another key big fly - For the second time in three nights, Andy Marte hit a homer that led directly to an Indians win. His two-run homer in the 9th Thursday led the Tribe to a 5-4 win. His three-run shot in the 6th tonight put Cleveland ahead 4-2 in a game the Indians won, 5-3. In this series, Marte is 5 for 11 with two homers and 6 RBI. He now has a ten-game hitting streak going and during the streak is 15 for 36 with three homers and 12 RBI. Matt LaPorta went 4 for 4 on the night and is 7 for 13 with a homer in this series. He also has a ten-game batting streak going and is hitting .410 (16 for 39) during the streak. The pen falters - The O's bullpen had pitched to an ERA of 3.03 over the last 11 games, but tonight, gave up seven hits and four runs over four innings. Chris Ray, who had allowed just one earned run over his last 18 innings, gave up Marte's three-run homer in the 6th. The Orioles fall to 11-16 in games decided by two runs. For the O's, 17 of their last 28 losses have been by two runs or less. The O's are 1-2 on the year vs. Cleveland and are 39-43 all-time at Camden Yards vs. the Indians. They are now 379-409 all-time vs. Cleveland. Nick the Stick - Nick Markakis was 2 for 4 with an RBI double. He is batting .339-8-32 since the All-Star break and this was his 47th multi-hit game of the year. Chad Moeller went 2 for 2 with a solo homer and is 5 for 8 during a three-game batting streak. Cesar Izturis went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple and is 6 for 21 with 3 RBI over his last five contests. After scoring 28 runs over the last four games, the Birds were held to three runs tonight and went 1 for 4 with runners in scoring position. The Orioles have scored three runs or less in 19 of 42 games since the All-Star break and are 1-18 in those 19 games. The O's have hit at least one homer in 10 of the last 13 games, with 17 total homers in that stretch. Cleveland is now 4-2 on a ten-game road trip, 15-11 in August and 23-17 in the second half. Defense, Defense - Adam Jones returned to the O's lineup and went 0 for 3 with a walk. He also made two great catches at the wall and threw a runner out at the plate. Jones has just three hits over his last 28 at bats. The O's are 31-33 at home, 9-19 in August, 16-17 vs. AL Central teams and 13-29 since the All-Star break. On the Farm - Jake Arrieta took the loss tonight, 6-2 vs. Charlotte. He gave up four runs (two earned) and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. In his previous four starts, Arrieta was 2-1, 1.73. Jack Peavy, the 2007 Cy Young winner in the NL, making his 4th rehab start for Charlotte, gave up 2ER over 3 1/3 innings. Frederick's Brandon Waring hit his 26th homer of the year, a solo shot, in the Keys win over Myrtle Beach. Hagerstown beat Delmarva, 4-0. With that loss, the Shorebirds were officially eliminated from playoff contention.