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Seattle Mariners try for their first three-game sweep in Baltimore in nearly seven years this evening when they wrap up their set with the Orioles at Camden Yards.
After winning the opener 10-3, Seattle continued its offensive attack on Wednesday, as Jose Vidro homered, drove in four runs and scored a pair of runs in the Mariners' 8-4 triumph. Vidro finished 3-for-3, while Jose Guillen and Raul Ibanez also homered for Seattle, which has won two straight, eight of its last 11 game and moved a percentage point ahead of Detroit in the AL wild card race.
Felix Hernandez (8-6) earned the win despite a shaky outing, as he surrendered four runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings. Hernandez did not walk a batter and struck out two.
The Mariners, who are also just three games back of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West, will be trying for their first sweep in Camden since turning the trick from September 15-17, 2000. Seattle, though, did take three straight from the O's at Safeco in August of 2003.
Miguel Tejada had three hits and drove in his 1,000th career run with an RBI single in the third inning for Baltimore, which has lost two straight and five of its last seven games.
Jeremy Guthrie (7-4) took the loss, allowing six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits in just four innings of work.
Heading to the hill tonight for Seattle will be left-hander Horacio Ramirez, who is 6-3 with a 6.68 earned run average. Ramirez received a no-decision on Friday against Boston, as he surrendered four runs and 10 hits in four innings of his team's 7-4 win.
Ramirez, who is 0-3 in five road starts this season, beat the O's earlier in the year is a perfect 3-0 lifetime against them with a 2.45 ERA in three starts.
Baltimore will counter with hit-or-miss right-hander Daniel Cabrera, who has won two of his last three starts. Cabrera was brilliant against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Friday, allowing a run and four hits in seven innings to run his record to 8-11 on the season, while lowering his ERA to 4.90.
Cabrera is also perfect against his opponent, going 5-0 with a 3.61 ERA in seven starts against Seattle.
Seattle has won six of eight from the Orioles this season and is 12-6 in the series since the start of last season. The Mariners have also won six of their last eight in Baltimore.