Orioles sink M’s
SEATTLE – Just when it seemed the Seattle Mariners had shaken their early season injury bug, they’re hobbling again.
Starting pitcher Carlos Silva was pulled because of a leg injury Wednesday night in what became a frustrating 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field.
Silva experienced tightness in his right thigh and left the game in the seventh inning. The Mariners believe he’ll be OK, but Silva’s painful gait and a similar stumble by the offense led to their fifth loss in six games this season against the Orioles.
Nick Markakis hit the first pitch from relief pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith for a home run with one out in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie. Former Mariner George Sherrill shut down the M’s in the ninth for his seventh save, finishing what Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera did so effectively through eight innings.
The Mariners won’t know Silva’s condition for sure until he reports to the ballpark today, but he seemed confident it’s not a significant injury.
“I will make my next start,” said Silva, who told manager John McLaren that he felt his leg tighten up during a pickoff throw in the sixth inning. “It’s hard to come out of the game, but sometimes you have to be smart.”
Silva is the second Mariners starter to be afflicted with a leg injury. Left-hander Erik Bedard has been on the disabled list since April 9 because of a sore left hip. He’s expected to pitch in the bullpen today and be activated Saturday, when he’s scheduled to start against the Oakland A’s.
Silva, 3-0 in four previous starts, had held the Orioles to one hit in four scoreless innings, then got out of the fifth despite allowing three hits. They nicked him for two runs in the sixth, when Brian Roberts led off with a single, Melvin Mora hit a triple and Nick Markakis an RBI groundout to tie the score 2-2.
Silva got the next two outs, but started the seventh by walking Aubrey Huff. He then threw a first-pitch strike to Adam Jones and hesitated only slightly before stepping back onto the rubber.
Trainer Rick Griffin jogged to the mound, followed by McLaren. After a brief discussion, McLaren replaced Silva with reliever Sean Green.
“He caught his spike on a pickoff move,” McLaren said. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow, but I’m hearing good things from the training room.”
What Silva couldn’t finish, his counterpart with the Orioles did.
Daniel Cabrera, a 26-year-old with electric stuff but often no idea where it’s going, didn’t allow a walk in eight innings. He’s 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA this season and 6-1 in his career against the Mariners, including 4-0 at Safeco Field.
Cabrera gave up five hits and two runs – one in the first when Ichiro Suzuki led off with a triple and scored on Raul Ibanez’s sacrifice fly, and one in the fourth when Jose Lopez, Ibanez and Adrian Beltre hit back-to-back-to-back singles and Jose Vidro grounded out to drive home Lopez.
“We had a chance with the bases loaded and no outs and we only got one run out of it,” McLaren said. “We need to get more runs out of that.”
After Silva left the game, it became the relievers’ job to preserve the tie and they did – for all but one pitch.
Green had finished the seventh and got the first out in the eighth before McLaren brought in Rowland-Smith to face a string of Orioles left-handed hitters. Markakis pulled his first pitch into the seats in right field.
The Mariners, who had one baserunner off Cabrera after their failed bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth, went down quietly against Sherrill in the ninth.
Raul Ibanez slapped a leadoff single, but he never left first base as Sherrill retired Beltre, Vidro and Richie Sexson to record his seventh save in seven opportunities – four of them against the Mariners.
Morse’s season ends
Mariners outfielder Mike Morse will miss the remainder of the season after reconstructive shoulder surgery.
Morse, one of the last players to make the team as a reserve after a stellar spring, landed on his left, non-throwing shoulder while attempting a diving catch with his arm outstretched April 13 in a game against the Los Angeles Angels. The converted shortstop waved off a trainer and finished the inning before leaving the game. Later tests revealed a dislocated shoulder, and team medical director Dr. Edward Khalfayan found a torn labrum and performed a shoulder reconstruction Tuesday.