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Tribe rallies past Orioles
Photo
The Indians’ Jason Kipnis is congratulated by Nick Swisher after hitting a two-run home run against Baltimore in the fourth inning Wednesday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Associated Press
BALTIMORE
Scott Kazmir took a no-hitter into the seventh, and the Cleveland Indians scored two ninth-inning runs off Baltimore Orioles closer Jim Johnson to pull out a 4-3 victory Wednesday night.
A leadoff double in the seventh by Manny Machado was the only hit allowed by Kazmir, who gave up one unearned run in seven innings. He came out to the mound for the eighth but left with an apparent injury before throwing a pitch.
Baltimore promptly scored twice against Joe Smith (4-0) to take a 3-2 lead, but the Indians rallied against Johnson (2-6) in the ninth.
After Michael Brantley drew a leadoff walk, Jason Giambi hit his 400th career double. An intentional walk loaded the bases for Lonnie Chisenhall, who hit into a run-scoring fielder’s choice. Drew Stubbs also hit into a fielder’s choice to bring home pinch-runner Mike Aviles and chase Johnson.
Vinnie Pestano worked the ninth for his fifth save.
Jason Kipnis homered for the Indians, who improved to 2-34 when trailing after eight innings.
After being dominated by Kazmir for six innings, the Orioles closed to 2-1 in the seventh when Machado doubled, advanced on a poor pickoff throw by Kazmir and scored on a fly ball by Chris Davis.
In the eighth, an infield hit by J.J. Hardy, a walk to Chris Dickerson and a single by Alexi Casilla loaded the bases with one out for Nick Markakis, who drove in a run by hitting into a fielder’s choice.
Machado then lined an RBI single off the left-field wall for a 3-2 lead.
Johnson couldn’t make the margin stand up. It was his fifth blown save.
The start of the game was delayed 66 minutes by rain, and both pitchers seized control from the outset. Jason Hammel retired the first 10 batters he faced and Kazmir was perfect through four innings.
Activated from the disabled list before the game, Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabrera became the first player to reach base when he was hit by a pitch in the fourth.
Kipnis followed with his 11th home run, the second in two nights, for a 2-0 lead.
Kazmir officially retired the first 13 batters before issuing a four-pitch walk to Matt Wieters in the fifth, although replays showed a sliding Machado beat out a fourth-inning grounder despite being called out by first base umpire Will Little.
The Indians put runners at the corners with two outs in the fifth before Hammel retired Michael Bourn on a grounder.
In the Cleveland seventh, Stubbs looked at a third strike with two outs and runners on second and third.
NOTES
To make room for Cabrera on the roster, Cleveland designated infielder John McDonald for assignment. ... Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy will undergo elbow ligament-replacement surgery Thursday in Florida. ... Cleveland’s Corey Kluber will bring a three-game winning streak to the mound Thursday night in the finale of the series. Miguel Gonzalez will pitch for Baltimore. ... Kipnis has reached safely in 28 consecutive games. ... The Indians expect to activate closer Chris Perez (shoulder) from the disabled list on today.