Seattle @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2013 ) Seattle 8, Baltimore 11
The Baltimore Orioles climbed into a playoff spot as they outslugged the Seattle Mariners in the opener of their three-game set. The clubs continue their series Saturday, with visiting Seattle looking to halt its four-game losing streak. Baltimore moved one-half game ahead of the Cleveland Indians for the second wild-card berth in the American League as Nate McLouth, Chris Davis and Ryan Flaherty swatted home runs to help Chris Tillman register his fourth consecutive victory.
McLouth's blast was a grand slam that broke open a one-run contest and Davis' was his major league-leading 40th of the season. Seattle belted four home runs of its own, with Kendrys Morales, Michael Morse, Michael Saunders and Humberto Quintero going deep. Morales is hitting .765 (13-for-17) over his last four games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), MASN, WJZ (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (2-0, 7.71 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Scott Feldman (2-2, 5.12)
Ramirez looks to remain unbeaten as he makes his fourth start of the season. The 23-year-old Nicaraguan recorded his second victory on Sunday, when he allowed four runs over six innings against the Minnesota Twins. Ramirez came away with a no-decision in his only career outing versus Baltimore, yielding two runs and four hits in eight frames on Sept. 18.
Feldman is coming off a loss to the Boston Red Sox last Saturday, when he surrendered four runs over five innings. It was the shortest outing since April 21 for the 30-year-old, who yielded a total of five runs in 15 1/3 frames over his previous two starts - both victories. Feldman is 5-5 with a 4.05 ERA in 26 career games - 12 starts - against the Mariners.
WALK-OFFS
1. Davis is the fifth player in Orioles history to reach the 40-homer mark and first since Rafael Palmeiro in 1998.
2. Baltimore RHP Jim Johnson leads the majors with 38 saves. He topped the sport with 51 last season.
3. Seattle has scored a total of 15 runs over its last two games but has allowed 19.
PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Mariners 4