The Seattle Mariners, going into Friday?s game, had the worst record in the American League West but just took two of three from the world champion Chicago White Sox.
The Baltimore Orioles? beleaguered pitching rotation was coming off a 2-4 road trip and the starters are ninth in the American League with a 5.84 ERA.
One night is not going to change that. But something had to give.
Behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera, the Orioles downed the Mariners 5-2 before 26,934 at Camden Yards.
The right-hander gently toes the dirt, then reaches back into a deep crouch. After a slight hesitation, Cabrera rises quickly off the mound, driving with his legs and throwing the ball with increasing velocity as his arm rips through the air.
As the ball exits his hand, traveling in the mid-90s, an audible grunt accompanies the ball as it heads to home plate with every ounce of Cabrera?s 6-feet-7, 230-pound frame barreling behind it.
“He physically looks like he is ready to pitch and every game he has continued to get better,” Orioles? catcher Ramon Hernandez said of Cabrera, who went seven innings, allowed four hits, and struck out six. “He is throwing the ball with much more confidence and it?s good to see.”
Right-hander Todd Williams, however, is on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Orioles? manager Sam Perlozzo said a decision should be made this week regarding his return.
“If he pitches the way he is capable of pitching then he will give us a big boost,” he said. “I think our guys are better than the way we have been pitching. But hopefully when Todd gets back, the team can continue to get better.”
Orioles? centerfielder Corey Patterson hit a solo home run in the second inning that bounced off the left foul pole, and teammate Miguel Tejada later followed with a solo home run to right in the bottom of the seventh to give his team a 5-2 lead.
With the game tied at two, the Orioles scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Second baseman Brian Roberts hit a two-out sacrifice fly to right that scored Kevin Millar. Patterson would later cross the plate with an insurance run after Jeff Conine reached second on a passed ball.
One of the surprises so far this season is the Orioles? speed and recognition on the base pass. The team has stolen 13 bases over their last 10 games and are tied for second in the league with 18 steals this season.
