Indians  5    Orioles  4

Cleveland Indians (56-70) at Baltimore Orioles (52-75), 7:05 p.m.

Sports Network | August 27, 2009

(Sports Network) - Young left-hander Aaron Laffey returns to his home state with a winning streak in tow tonight when the Cleveland Indians visit the Baltimore Orioles for the opener of a four-game series at Camden Yards.

Laffey is a native of Cumberland, Maryland and has never faced the Orioles through his 43 major-league appearances over parts of three seasons with the Indians.

He was 9-9 in 25 starts entering 2009 but has since found his stride, winning seven of 10 decisions thus far this season, including three straight and four of his last five since reaching the All-Star break at 3-2.

Laffey twirled 5 1/3 innings at Minnesota for win No. 7 on August 16, allowing five hits and three runs in Cleveland's 7-4 triumph. Previously, he'd sandwiched wins over Seattle, Minnesota and Texas around a single loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on July 29.

In his last start, on August 22, Laffey got a no-decision after giving up eight hits and three runs in seven innings against Seattle in a game the Indians took, 4-3.

He is 3-3 in 11 road appearances this season with a 4.97 earned run average.

Countering for Baltimore is rookie right-hander David Hernandez, who also started the season 3-2, but has since dropped four of five starts.

He defeated Oakland, 3-2, on August 11, for his lone win since July, while racking up losses to Boston, Detroit, the Angels and the Chicago White Sox.

He lasted just four innings in the latter outing, dropping a 4-1 decision to Chicago while giving up three hits and three runs while walking three batters and striking out four.

Hernandez is 2-3 in five home starts with a 4.23 ERA.

He has never faced the Indians.

On Wednesday in Kansas City, Shin-Soo Choo collected two hits and an RBI while Matt LaPorta added a solo home run as Cleveland doubled up Kansas City, 4-2, in the finale of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium.

Jamey Carroll had three hits and Asdrubal Cabrera drove in the other run for the Indians, who took two of three in the set and have won four of five overall.

David Huff (8-7) allowed just seven hits and two runs over six solid innings for the win. Kerry Wood hurled a 1-2-3 final frame for his 16th save.

In Minnesota, Jeremy Guthrie allowed just one run in seven sterling innings, leading the Orioles to a 5-1 win over the Twins.

Guthrie (9-12) scattered six hits and struck out five without issuing a walk to win his second straight start for Baltimore, which took the season series from the Twins, 3-2.

Felix Pie hit a solo homer and scored twice, while Chad Moeller had two hits and two RBI in the win.

These two clubs have split four meetings so far this year.