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Branyan's shot keys five-run sixth | |||||||||||||
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GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) – The strikeouts remain a problem for Russ Branyan. When he makes contact, though, good things usually happen. Branyan hit a grand slam and Dave Burba pitched six solid innings to earn his first win this season as the Cleveland Indians beat Baltimore 8-1 Tuesday night. Branyan's second career slam, which traveled about 430 feet, highlighted a five-run sixth inning. It was his fifth homer, tying him with Juan Gonzalez for the team lead. "Russell's got some big pop in his bat. He's got some big pizzaz," Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel said. Branyan had 76 strikeouts and 16 homers in 67 games as a rookie last season. He has an AL-high 21 strikeouts in 44 at-bats this year, but is 10-for-23 with five homers and 12 RBI when he puts the ball in play. His slam came against left-hander B.J. Ryan. Branyan, who did not homer off a lefty last year, has three this season. "So far, Charlie's given me a chance to face lefties -- to start against them and to leave me in late in the game against them," Branyan said. "We don't have many backup infielders right now and he needs me out there because of that, so it's a good opportunity to stay in there against lefties." A 16-game winner a year ago, Burba was winless with a 7.84 ERA in two starts before limiting the Orioles to a run and four hits. He was lifted after giving up successive singles opening the seventh. Burba (1-1), who retired 12 straight at one point, struck out four and walked three in improving to 4-0 against Baltimore. Chris Richard homered for the Orioles. Cal Ripken grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to end the first inning and went 0-for-2, lowering his batting average to .125. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh with the game out of reach. "We really missed a golden opportunity in the first inning," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "Had we been able to score there, maybe the course of the game might have changed a little bit." Said Burba: "It was a huge play. Fortunately for me and the Indians, I was able to make a good pitch in that situation and get a ground ball." Cleveland led 3-1 before pulling away in the sixth. After Gonzalez singled and Ellis Burks doubled, Ryan replaced Baltimore starter Jose Mercedes (0-3). Ryan retired Jim Thome and issued an intentional walk to Wil Cordero before Branyan hit a 3-2 pitch into the Cleveland bullpen beyond the center-field wall. "They walked Cordero in front of me and it's a situation where you want to come through, especially lefty-lefty matchup when they're playing the odds," Branyan said. Successive throwing errors by second baseman Jerry Hairston enabled the Indians to add an unearned run for an 8-1 lead. Mercedes, who led the Orioles with 14 wins last year, has a 9.77 earned-run average in three starts. "I thought he battled well, but he wasn't very sharp tonight," Hargrove said. "He just never found his rhythm and settled in." Mercedes retired his first two batters before Cleveland used three singles and a pair of walks to take a 3-0 lead. Thome, who came in with two RBI, doubled that total with a two-run single and Cordero followed with a run-scoring infield hit. Richard led off the second with his first homer, a shot to right on a 3-1 pitch. Burba didn't allow another runner until Brady Anderson drew a leadoff walk in the sixth. Game notesThe Orioles placed RHP Sidney Ponson (0-3, 6.62 ERA) on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his right elbow and called up RHP Chad Paronto from Triple-A Rochester. ... Cleveland CF Kenny Lofton returned after missing nine games with a strained right calf. He went 2-for-5. ... Mike Kinkade singled for Ripken in the seventh, the Orioles' lone pinch-hit of the year. ... Baltimore DH Greg Myers, making a fourth straight start for the first time since July 1996, went 0-for-3 with a walk in the cleanup spot.  Send this story to a friend
| RECAPS Cleveland 8 Baltimore 1
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