Fri Apr 25 02:31:39 2008

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Roberts' home run in eighth lifts O's past M's

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Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Brian Roberts went 2-for-4 with the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to push the Baltimore Orioles past the Seattle Mariners, 8-7, in the finale of a three-game set.

Adam Jones ended 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Orioles, who have won two in a row and took the series 2-1. Jay Payton went 2-for-5 with an RBI and scored twice.

"This team amazes me," Roberts said. "We were down 5-0, there was no panic, just kind of chipped away, one at a time, and then some guys come up with some really big hits."

Adam Loewen started for Baltimore and went 2 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on four hits in the no decision. Chad Bradford (2-1) absorbed the win by going 1 1/3 frames and giving up just a hit. George Sherrill got the save -- his eighth on the year -- after pitching the ninth and giving up just one hit.

Ichiro Suzuki belted a two-run homer in the seventh for the Mariners, who have dropped two in a row and four of six. Jose Vidro added a pair of RBI, while Yuniesky Betancourt had three hits and scored twice.

Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn gave up two runs on six hits in five innings in the no decision. Sean Green (1-1) was dealt the loss after he was touched for one run and one hit in 1 1/3 innings on the hill.

"I feel pretty well with how I've pitched," Washburn said. "Every game I've started so far, we've had a chance to win, haven't been able to pull them out. It's one of those crazy things in the game."

Ichiro knotted the game in the seventh with a two-run homer off Jamie Walker that scored Betancourt.

Roberts put the Orioles on top 8-7 with his solo home run off Green in the eighth inning.

Sherrill came in to close out the ninth and gave up a bloop single to Betancourt, though, Ichiro grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Jose Lopez grounded out to short to end the game.

The Mariners got on the board first as Adrian Beltre led off the second inning with a solo shot to left.

Seattle added some insurance runs in the third. Willie Bloomquist and Betancourt started the frame off with consecutive singles and Ichiro drew a walk to load the bases. Lopez slugged a sac fly to right field to plate Bloomquist and Raul Ibanez contributed another sac fly to score Betancourt. Beltre then walked to put runners on first and second. Ichiro and Beltre pulled off a double steal and Vidro's ground-rule double scored both runners. Randor Bierd came on in relief of Loewen and got out of the inning, but the damage had been done, as the Mariners emerged with a 5-0 lead.

Payton smacked a solo homer in the fourth to make it 5-1.

Melvin Mora led off the fifth with a single, moved to third on Nick Markakis' single and crossed home plate when Kevin Millar grounded into a double play.

Payton singled off of Roy Corcoran to begin the sixth and eventually made his way to third. Jones plated him with a single and Baltimore was within 5-3.

The Orioles took control in the seventh as Corcoran got the hook after loading the bases. Mark Lowe came on in relief and surrendered a sac fly to Millar, which scored Roberts. Aubrey Huff then worked a single to score Mora and Hernandez worked a walk to load the bases and Jones drilled a two-run double off the wall in left to put the Orioles on top 7-5 in the middle of the seventh.

Game Notes

Seattle manager John McLaren was ejected by home plate umpire Casey Moser in the seventh for arguing balls and strikes...Baltimore improved to 6-1 against Seattle this season...Attendance was 16,727...Markakis has now reached base safely in 21 of 22 games this season, including 19 consecutive...Sherrill is 8-for-8 in save opportunities this season.