Orioles Take Two in Seattle

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April 25, 8:05 AM

by Pete Sabatini, Baltimore O's Examiner

 

 

For the second night in a row, the Orioles took a one run win from the Mariners in Seattle.  Wednesday night it was good pitching and timely hitting that did the job, and Thursday night it was timely hitting and ample hitting.

Daniel Cabrera proved this naysayer wrong by pitching eight full innings on Wednesday night; more than any other Oriole pitcher this season.  Not only did he go long, but he looked good doing it giving up only two earned runs and having his way with Mariner batters.  He mixed speeds and hit his spots with all pitches; something Cabrera hasn’t done in back to back starts since I can remember.   

You couldn’t draw it much better as Nick Markakis gave the Orioles the lead, 2-1, with his go-ahead solo home run in the eighth followed by George Sherrill wrapping up the ninth.

Thursday night, on the other hand, was an old fashioned 8-7 slugfest.  All the Oriole bats contributed, except for Ramon Hernandez who gave us an 0-4 and watched his average drop to .188.  Jones nearly bashed a grand slam, turned two-run double, in the seventh.  Jones finish 3-4 with three RBI, and Brian Roberts put the Birds ahead for good with a solo shot in the eighth.

You have to worry about Adam Loewen who lasted 2 2/3 and gave up 5 of the Mariners’ 7 runs.  Loewen now carries a 7.85 ERA and has given up 16 runs in 18 innings.  In the first three innings of his starts Adam has a 9.00 ERA.  Not a good way to start ballgames.

Loewen missed most of last season with an elbow injury and it doesn’t look like he’s regained his form.  Hayden Penn isn’t exactly waiting in the wings at Norfolk with his 1-1 and 4.88 ERA even if he does have 24 innings under his belt. 

Garrett Olson, on the other hand, is 1-1 with a 1.61 ERA in his last three starts and has compiled 20 Ks and one walk.  Don’t forget, Matt Albers also has shown that he can make a start so maybe it’s time Loewen ironed out the kinks in triple A.

Loewen gets a close eye in triple A, Albers gets to start, and Olson gets to work out of the bullpen.  Could work.

(Wednesday Box Score)  (Thursday Box Score)

And, for anyone keeping track, Frank Thomas wound up with the A's again and went 0-3 with 2 walks in an 11-3 victory over the Twins.

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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