Mariners dominate Orioles, 10-0
BALTIMORE -- Nelson Cruz homered and had five RBIs, while Kyle Seager added a three-run shot, as the Seattle Mariners continued their dominance on the road with a 10-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
Seattle improved to an American League-best 14-6 away from Safeco Field and bounced back from a three-game sweep by its AL West rival, the Los Angeles Angels, over the weekend. The Mariners handed the Orioles their most lopsided loss of the season.
Wade Miley (4-2) entered the game 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in three career starts against Baltimore. After a rocky first inning where he allowed two walks and loaded the bases, Miley settled down and retired 10 consecutive batters before Matt Wieters led off the fifth with a single to center.
Miley threw six innings of two-hit ball with a strikeout and three walks.
Robinson Cano went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs for the Mariners, who improved to 6-1 over the AL East.
Already staked with a 7-0 lead, the Mariners further distanced themselves with an RBI double by Cano and a two-run shot by Cruz in the sixth.
Despite enduring its worst outing of the season, Baltimore's lost for just the third time in the past 10 games.
Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez struggled early with his command, allowing a two-RBI single by Cruz in the first. Cruz then went to second on an errant pickoff throw and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Jimenez, though, recovered and struck out the side after facing seven batters.
From there, though, Jimenez was solid and retired 12 of the next 13 hitter he faced before Norichika Aoki managed an infield single in the fifth. That proved to be costly as Jimenez walked Seth Smith before Robinson Cano and Cruz followed with back-to-back RBI singles for a 4-0 lead that ended the right-hander's night.
Brian Matusz entered, and three pitches later, allowed the three-run homer to Seager.
Jimenez was charged with six runs on five hits over just 4 1/3 innings -- his shortest outing of the season.
NOTES: Seattle RHP Joaquin Benoit (right shoulder inflammation) was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday. To make room, RHP Mayckol Guaipe was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. Benoit is 1-0 with two holds and a 3.60 ERA (two earned runs, five innings pitched) with four strikeouts in five relief appearances. ... Baltimore RHP Tyler Wilson was named the starter for the series finale on Thursday. He has started four games this year, going 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA. ... Mariners LHP Charlie Furbush (shoulder) is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Thursday at Triple-A Tacoma. If there are no setbacks, he will travel to the Mariners' minor league facility in Arizona to continue his work at extended spring training.