Masterson, Choo help Indians beat Orioles

Masterson (7-8) held Baltimore to one run on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings.
After walking a career-high seven in his last start in Tampa Bay, Masterson
only handed out one free pass while striking out six.

Shin-Soo Choo provided the decisive shot for Cleveland, socking a two-run home
run in the third inning.

Hunter (4-5) allowed three runs in seven-plus innings. He surrendered eight
hits and struck out four, as the Orioles saw their five-game win streak come
to an end.

Down 2-1, Baltimore had an opportunity to tie the game in the eighth inning
after Nick Markakis delivered a one-out single to end Masterson’s night.

Endy Chavez greeted Vinnie Pestano with a line drive into the left-field
corner. Markakis ran through a stop sign and then stopped between third and
home, despite Asdrubal Cabrera’s bobble in the relay. After Cabrera collected
the ball, Markakis was caught in a run down and tagged out. Pestano struck out
Jim Thome to end the rally.

Casey Kotchman reached base in the third inning on an infield single. Two
batters later, Choo crushed a high cutter over the right-field fence to give
the Indians a 2-0 lead.

The O’s picked up a run in the fifth after Masterson plunked Ryan Flaherty
with two outs. Omar Quintanilla smacked a double into the left-field gap to
bring Baltimore within a run.

Cleveland picked up an insurance run in the eighth. Choo led off with a single
and Cabrera hit a grounder off of Hunter for a base hit, chasing Hunter from
the game. Troy Patton entered and Jason Kipnis dropped down a bunt single to
load the bases. Michael Brantley shot a base hit past a drawn-in infield to
plate Choo.

Chris Perez set down the Orioles in order in the ninth to wrap up his 27th
save of the season.

Game Notes

Choo’s homer was the 22nd Hunter has allowed this season, third-most in the
American League…In his last 12 starts combined, the Orioles have scored 35
runs while Hunter was in the game, with 11 of those runs coming on June 14 in
his start against the Pirates…The Orioles have posted six straight quality
starts for the first time since May 10-15, 2011…Markakis, who went 1-for-3,
is now 17-for-47 since returning from the disabled list…The Indians are 28-3
in games in which Pestano and Perez both appear…The Orioles went 0-for-4
with runners in scoring position and stranded five. The Orioles have had 31
games without a hit with a runner in scoring position…The Indians went 3-
for-11 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base.