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Payton leads Orioles past Nationals in extra innings

May 20, 2007 - 4:12 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Jay Payton's two-run double in the top of the 11th keyed the Baltimore Orioles' 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

Payton's liner down the left field line off reliever Winston Abreu (0-1) plated Freddie Bynum and Melvin Mora and broke a 1-1 tie and was the difference as the Orioles beat their interleague rivals for the second time in as many games.

The Orioles had dropped five straight games prior to winning here on Friday.

"You get tired of losing," Payton said. "We've been losing a lot of games lately. It's nice to put together back-to-back wins."

Baltimore reliever John Parrish (2-0) was the winning pitcher after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Though allowing an RBI-single to Tony Batista in the bottom of the 11th inning, Chris Ray recorded his 10th save of the season.

Abreu started the 11th and allowed a leadoff walk to Ramon Hernandez. After Aubrey Huff flew out, Bynum entered to pinch run for Hernandez. On the second pitch to Melvin Mora, Bynum stole second base despite the fact that Schneider, the Washington catcher, called for a pitch-out on play.

Mora then looped a single just over glove of leaping shortstop Cristian Guzman to move Bynum to third. Payton followed with his second double of the game, as he accounted for both of the Orioles extra-base hits.

Nick Markakis had three hits for the Orioles, who trailed 1-0 before tying the game off reliever Jon Rauch in the eighth.

Rauch allowed a leadoff walk to Brian Roberts and then a single to Markakis. After Miguel Tejada flew out to shallow right, Roberts and Markakis pulled off a successful double steal on the first pitch to Hernandez.

Hernandez was intentionally walked to load the bases, before Huff lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Roberts with the tying run. Mora flew out to end the inning.

Both squads wasted a strong effort from their starting pitcher.

Baltimore's Jeremy Guthrie allowed one run and four hits in seven innings and retired 15 consecutive batters between the second and seventh innings.

"He's establishing himself as a pretty darn good starter," Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo said. "It's a shame we didn't come out and get a couple more runs for him and a win."

The righthander did not allow a walk and struck out a career-high 10 batters. Coming into the game, Guthrie had just 16 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings this season.

"In my own mind, I feel good about what I'm doing. I'm comfortable doing it. The only thing I can do is pitch well and that's what I'm doing," Guthrie said.

Mike Bacsik pitched six scoreless innings for the Nationals, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out a batter.

"You couldn't have written it any better. (Bacsik) did an outstanding job," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "You have to give it up to the kid. He pitched an outstanding game."

The 29-year-old had his contract purchased from Class AAA Columbus on Saturday to fill in for the injured Jason Bergmann. Bergmann was placed the 15-day disabled list with an elbow injury Friday.

Bacsik, who last pitched in the majors in 2004, came into the game with a career record of 5-5 with a 5.88 ERA in 22 starts with Cleveland, the New York Mets, and Texas.

He failed to make the Nationals a year ago but was released. He tried again this year, but was sent down to Columbus.

"It's pretty special. I made it through quite a few years of not making it to the big leagues," Bacsik said. "I was throwing strikes. Brian Schneider called a good game. I went with everything he called. For the most part, I was in pitchers' counts," Bacsik said.

Payton indicated that the Orioles probably should have had some better at-bats against Bacsik.

"He's not going to blow you anyway with anything. He throws under hitting speed," he said.

The Nationals scored their lone run of the game in the second inning.

Ryan Church led off with a base hit and, after one out was recorded, advanced to second on a base hit by Dmitri Young. Schneider reached base on a force out and moved Church to third.

Nook Logan then lined a two-out RBI double down the right field line, moving Schneider to third. Guthrie struck out Bacsik to end the inning.