Orioles 9, Mariners 5
Notes: The Orioles went 5-4 on their rain-shortened homestand. Monday's game against the Mariners was rained out. … Baltimore starts a three-game series in Cleveland on Friday, then plays six more games at Camden Yards. … Seattle starters are 0-5 with a 7.02 ERA in the Mariners' last eight games. … Baltimore has outscored the opposition 16-3 in the seventh inning this season.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Eric DuBose pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and Melvin Mora and Brian Roberts had four hits apiece, leading the Baltimore Orioles past the skidding Seattle Mariners 9-5 Thursday.
Luis Matos had three hits and drove in two runs for the Orioles, who won the final two games of the rain-shortened three-game series.
Baltimore got 15 hits, including 12 against Seattle starter Joel Pineiro (1-3). The Orioles used a four-run third inning to take control, then pulled away with a five-run seventh.
That was more than enough offense to dispatch light-hitting Seattle, which ranks 13th in the 14-team AL in runs scored. The last-place Mariners have lost seven of eight.
Playing in his 614th consecutive game, Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada left in the eighth after being struck in the face by a throw from first baseman Rafael Palmeiro. The toss deflected off the helmet of Seattle baserunner Randy Winn.
DuBose (3-2) allowed two runs, three singles and three walks in winning his third straight start. The left-hander has given up just four earned runs over his last 21 innings.
DuBose left with a 9-2 lead. B.J. Ryan, who came in with a 0.00 ERA, gave up three runs in the eighth. Jorge Julio escaped the ninth by striking out Rich Aurilia with runners on first and third for the final out.
The Orioles went up 4-0 in the third. After Roberts hit a leadoff single and Mora doubled, Tejada was credited with an RBI single on a sharp grounder that Bret Boone fumbled at second base.
Palmeiro then drove in Mora with a double off the right-field scoreboard, and Tejada scored when Javy Lopez hit a grounder through the legs of third baseman Scott Spiezio. B.J. Surhoff capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
Seattle closed to 4-2 in the fifth. Spiezio drew a leadoff walk and Raul Ibanez doubled before Jolbert Cabrera and Ben Davis hit run-scoring grounders.
Piniero never retired the side in order, but he kept the Mariners close until the seventh.
After Mora and Tejada singled to chase Piniero, Palmeiro walked to load the bases. Lopez drove in a run with a grounder, Jay Gibbons hit an RBI single and Matos singled in two runs before Roberts hit an RBI single.