Post-game Notes: Tribe wins on homer in ninth

The Orioles began tonight with a record of 44 and 2 this year when leading after eight innings. The Indians were 4-62 when trailing after eight. But Andy Marte's two-out, two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch lifted Cleveland to a 5-4 win. Marte is batting .414-2-8 during an eight-game batting streak. This was the Orioles' fourth one-run game in their past five contests. They are 1-3 in those games and 14-19 in one-run games on the year. Gopher balls this year - Jim Johnson did not allow a homer all of last year in 68 2/3 innings. Tonight he gave up his 7th homer of the year in 59 2/3 innings. Melvin Mora had three hits tonight, including a solo homer in the 2nd inning. He entered this game after going just 3 for 25 on the O's recent road trip. Mora tied his season-high with three hits, this is the 7th time he's done that on the year. Nolan Reimold had a single and walk and has now reached base in a career-high 14 straight games. He has reached safely in 72 of 88 games on the year. The O's bullpen pitched to an ERA of 2.10 on the nine-game road trip, but tonight, Danys Baez gave up a run in the 8th and Jim Johnson allowed two in the ninth. Chris Ray did pitch a scoreless 7th inning and has allowed just one earned run over his last 18 innings as his ERA has dropped from 10.24 to 5.54. The Orioles are now 4-4 over the last eight games. Marte's homer was just his second this year in the Major Leagues, but that is in just 69 at bats. He hit 18 homers earlier this year at Triple-A Columbus and at the time of his callup was tied for second in the International League in homers. Tribe playing well - The Indians have now won 15 of their last 25 and 21 of the last 34 games. They are 22-16 since the All-Star break. Cleveland is 13-6 in its last 19 road games. Grady Sizemore had three hits tonight and led off the game with a solo homer on a 1-2 pitch. It was his third leadoff homer of the year and 21st of his career. Starting off - The O's have now allowed two leadoff homers on the season. Ian Kinsler hit one vs. Baltimore on April 25th. O's pitching allowed two homers tonight. The staff has given up 18 homers over the last 12 games and 43 over the past 30 contests. O's starter David Hernandez, who had pitched to an ERA of 7.11 over his previous four starts, tonight gave up just two runs over six innings. It was his 6th quality start in 13 outings.