As bat stays hot, Steve Clevenger stays in the lineup for the Orioles

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

August 20, 2015, 12:50pm

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Baltimore native Steve Clevenger got his latest callup to the major leagues on Friday at the start of this Orioles' homestand. He got the start Saturday against Oakland. He's been in the lineup ever since.

He will make his sixth straight start tonight against Minnesota, batting seventh as the DH. Clevenger is 8-for-18 during a four-game hitting streak with a homer and five RBIs. He is batting .406 (13-for-32) in nine big league games this season.

"I thought Buck might put me in there a couple of games," Clevenger said. "I'm appreciative that I'm in there. Been swinging the bat pretty well right now and hope I can keep it going. It's a great feeling to be from here and get to contribute to a team that is winning. We have a great group of guys here."

Monday night Clevenger hit a three-run homer off American League ERA leader Sonny Gray of Oakland that led the Orioles to a 4-2 win. It was his second career major league homer and first as an Oriole.

Clevenger's hot bat picked up in Baltimore where he left off in Norfolk. He hit .305 in 75 games at Triple-A this year.

"Just trying not to do too much," he said of his year at the plate. "Last year I think I got a couple of opportunities late in the year and I kind of wanted to impress a little bit. This year just wanted to come here and just stay within what I can do best.

"I believe I can hit up here on a consistent basis given consistent at-bats. But this is a fun time of the to contribute and I just want to go up to the plate every day not trying to do too much."