A recap of the Orioles' 4-2 loss to the Mariners last night:
TIED NO LONGER
The bottom of the eighth inning of a tie game started ominously for Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, who gave up a leadoff double to Yuniesky Betancourt. However, Guthrie quickly retired the next two Mariners without Betancourt advancing. The Orioles then decided to walk the hot-hitting Raul Ibanez and face Adrian Beltre, who was 0-for-12 with four strikeouts in his career against Guthrie. However, Guthrie walked Beltre, loading the bases for Jose Vidro. On a 1-1 pitch, Vidro drove the ball to right field, scoring two runs and getting the Orioles' seven-game road trip off to a bad start.
GOOD THEN BAD
Guthrie appeared to be on his way to getting out of a fifth-inning jam thanks to a standout defensive play. With men on first and second and one out, Guthrie bare-handed Ichiro Suzuki's swinging bunt. With no other option and Melvin Mora playing in, Guthrie raced to third base, just barely touching the bag before a sliding Kenji Johjima. However with Jose Lopez up, catcher Ramon Hernandez tried to throw behind Ichiro Suzuki. The throw was errant and went down the right-field line. Betancourt, who was on second base, ran through third base coach Sam Perlozzo's stop sign and scored, giving Seattle a 2-1 lead.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
The last time the Orioles faced Felix Hernandez, they were shut down for eight innings, managing five hits in a game this month. Last night, they had plenty of chances against him in the first two innings, but scored just one run. With men on first and third with one out after Kevin Millar's RBI single in the first, Hernandez struck out Luke Scott and Aubrey Huff looking. Then in the second inning, the Orioles had the bases loaded with two outs and Hernandez struck out Nick Markakis looking on a 1-2 pitch.
ON DECK
Game 2 of the series will start tonight at 10:10 with Orioles right-hander Daniel Cabrera (1-0, 5.16) opposing Mariners right-hander Carlos Silva (3-0, 2.79). Cabrera is 5-1 with a 4.60 ERA in nine career starts against the Mariners. Silva is 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA in 13 career appearances against the Orioles. They faced each other April 7 in the Orioles' 5-4 victory at Camden Yards. Both gave up four earned runs and got no-decisions.
JEFF ZREBIEC