Orioles vs. AL Central, and other notes (O's lose 2-1 in 11th)

Despite being 19 games above .500, the Orioles are only 9-14 (.391) against the American League Central this season. In their other 96 games, they've gone 60-36 (.625) and are playing at a 101-win full-season pace. The Orioles have won eight consecutive series openers dating back to July 21 in Anaheim. They're 25-15 in series openers this season, going 13-7 at home and 12-8 on the road. The Orioles trail the Indians in the all-time series 394-430, going 213-204 in Baltimore and 181-226 in Cleveland. They've gone 48-54 at Camden Yards and 24-53 at Progressive Field. The Orioles' 35 road wins lead the American League and trail only the Dodgers (40). In their last 11 road games since July 21, the Orioles have gone 8-3 and the pitching staff has registered a 2.30 ERA with 34 walks and 83 strikeouts in 98 innings. The starters are 6-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 68 1/3 innings and the relievers have posted a 1.52 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. Since May 31, the Orioles own a 20-9 road record with a .690 winning percentage that leads the majors. The pitching staff has registered a 3.15 ERA in 260 innings. Since June 30, the Orioles have registered a 2.95 ERA while going 27-11, the fourth-best ERA in the majors behind Seattle (2.36), San Diego (2.46) and Tampa Bay (2.63). The Orioles own the best winning percentage in the majors when scoring first (.821; 46-10). Orioles minor league hitting coordinator Jeff Manto will be inducted into the International League Hall of Fame on Wednesday night in Buffalo. Manto won the league's MVP award in 1994, splitting the season between Norfolk and Rochester after being traded in May. Triple-A Norfolk reliever Evan Meek has registered eight consecutive scoreless outings, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out six over eight innings. Twenty-nine of his 34 outings with the Tides have been scoreless, and he's walked four and struck out 32 in 36 2/3 innings. Norfolk leads the IL with 1,172 hits, eight more than Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Tides are on pace to collect 1,339 hits this season, which would surpass the franchise record of 1,331 established in 1987. First baseman Christian Walker leads Orioles minor leaguers with 24 home runs and 91 RBIs. Another reminder that MASN will re-air the 60th anniversary celebration on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. and Thursday at 8 p.m. Game update: Wei-Yin Chen has allowed one run and four hits over seven innings. He's walked one batter and struck out six. And he's losing. The only run came on Zach Walters' disputed home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Update II: J.J. Hardy's thumb must be fine. Hardy's second hit of the night scored Nelson Cruz in the eighth inning and tied the game 1-1. Chen allowed one run and four hits in seven innings, with one walk, six strikeouts and a home run. He was removed after 92 pitches, and Andrew Miller tossed a scoreless eighth. Update III: Mike Aviles homered off Brian Matusz in the 11th inning to give Cleveland a 2-1 victory over the Orioles. The Orioles are 12-5 in extra innings and 24-18 in one-run games.