BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Unless he is teasing us with the most unexpected start on a team that continues to defy expectations, Orioles starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera finally has gotten it.

Finally, it appears Cabrera is no longer the head case packing upper-90 mph heat, no longer the intimidating, 6-feet-9 flame thrower prone to the mechanical breakdown and the mental meltdown, no longer the guy who figures the only way to confront adversity is to try to strike out the world.

To watch Cabrera perform on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox, a team that has tortured him like few others throughout a career marked by so many disappointments, was to witness the proverbial porch light burning brightly, not flickering.

To watch Cabrera was to view the ace the Orioles have been waiting on for so long.

Jay Payton grabbed the headlines by hitting the grand slam that turned defeat into a 6-3 victory. Yet, by keeping the Orioles close with a seven-inning performance in which he countered a lack of sharpness with guts, guile and patience, Cabrera quietly stole the show. And he may have created a watershed moment for himself and his plucky teammates.

What a beautiful mess it was to see. Cabrera, who basically had command of only his fastball, scattered 10 hits, including a pair of solo home runs. In every inning but one, he pitched with at least one runner on base. Several times, he was one mistake away from a potential disaster.

But a funny thing happened to the Dominican enigma. Cabrera never blinked, never overthrew, never gave anything away with a walk. Rather, he kept getting ahead of hitters, and kept shrinking the game to one pitch — a two-seam, sinking fastball that induced three, double-play ground balls.

Say hello to the Orioles’ best power pitcher. Cabrera is now a fan of the groundout, not the strikeout. Twelve Red Sox were retired via ground balls. Three struck out. And Cabrera got a much-deserved lift from his offense to improve his record to 4-1.

“I just try to keep focused and make a good pitch, get a ground ball, let my teammates play defense,” said Cabrera, who did not mask the significance of the win. “[Wins] are not all the same. When you can win against a hard team, and Boston is always killing me, it makes you feel very good.”

Cabrera’s it’s-about-time turnaround has been ongoing for the past month, right along with the rest of a pitching staff that has shown the makings of real backbone.

The Orioles (21-19) are 7-1 when Cabrera (3.58 ERA) starts. In his past three outings, he has completed at least seven innings and has walked a total of three batters.

Cabrera has produced seven consecutive “quality starts,” having allowed no more than three earned runs while going at least six innings. In 60.3 innings, his walks are down (24) — and so are his strikeouts (37).

And the way he kept the Red Sox at bay can’t be overstated. Before Wednesday, he was 1-9 against them with a 7.84 ERA and 43 homers allowed in 49 innings.

“Maybe it just takes a different pitching coach. We’ve got a real good one [in Rick Kranitz],” closer George Sherrill said. “He knows the right buttons to push with each guy. You’re never going to be under-prepared. Know [opponents’] weaknesses, but go with your strengths. [Cabrera] has been throwing a lot of strikes this year.”

Cabrera looks like a former wild man pitching in slow motion. His hip is opening properly. His shoulder is staying closed. He is striding toward the strike zone, not falling off the mound. He is staying on top of the ball, and thus is spotting it better than ever. He keeps throwing first pitches for strikes.

His composure problems look like things of the past.

“[Cabrera] is being aggressive, trusting his stuff, not trying to do too much,” relief pitcher Matt Albers said. “He’s been our horse this year.”

glambrecht@baltimoreexaminer.com.