Mon Apr 7 10:57:42 2008

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O's go for four-game sweep of Mariners

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(Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles try for their first four-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners since September of 1999 this afternoon when they close their set at Camden Yards.

After losing its season-opener Baltimore has roared back with four straight wins, including a dramatic 3-2 come-from-behind victory on Sunday, as Luis Hernandez's single to the right-center field gap plated Jay Payton with the game-winning run, capping a three-run rally in the ninth inning for the O's.

Luke Scott went 3-for-4, while Nick Markakis went 2-for-3 with a key double in the ninth-inning rally for the Orioles, who are off to their best start since opening the 2000 campaign at 5-1.

The ninth inning rally made a winner out of Dennis Sarfate (1-0), who tossed a scoreless ninth for Baltimore. Jeremy Guthrie started for the Orioles and let up two runs on six hits in seven innings with two strikeouts and two walks.

Seattle's bullpen wasted a brilliant performance from Felix Hernandez, who threw eight shutout innings, scattering five hits while fanning six and walking two. With J.J. Putz sidelined, though, the Mariners turned to Eric O'Flaherty to nail down the win, but he gave up a run and left a runner on first before exiting. Mark Lowe (0-1) then came on and was no better, as he gave up two hits and a run without recording an out, while absorbing the loss.

Raul Ibanez went 3-for-4 and homered for Seattle, and Richie Sexson hit an RBI double.

Baltimore will have Daniel Cabrera on the hill in the finale. Cabrera, who lost a league-high 18 games last season, was far from solid in his season debut on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, as he allowed six runs and six hits in four innings. However, he did not get the decision in his team's 9-6 win.

Cabrera, though, walked five batters after issuing a league-high 108 free passes in 2007.

The 26-year-old right-hander has had some success against the Mariners in his brief career, going 5-1 against them with a 4.44 ERA.

Seattle will counter with veteran right-hander Carlos Silva, who had his start pushed up a day because of Erik Bedard's hip injury. Silva was sensational in his first game with the Mariners, as he held the Texas Rangers to one run and three hits in seven innings to get the win.

Silva, though, unlike his counterpart today, has struggled against his opponent, losing his last four starts to Baltimore, while amassing a 1-4 lifetime mark to go along with a 4.60 ERA in 12 games, six of which have been starts.

The Mariners swept a three-game series from the Orioles in Baltimore last August and are 7-4 in their last 11 matchups at Camden Yards. Seattle won seven of the nine overall meetings between these teams a year ago.