• Recap
• Bleachers

Ibanez helps Mariners avoid sweep, top Orioles

Aug 4, 2008 - 12:34 AM By Paul Lowenberg PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Raul Ibanez singled in a pair of runs to highlight a three-run seventh inning as the Seattle Mariners avoided a three-game sweep by defeating the Baltimore Orioles, 8-4, on Sunday afternoon.

Seattle snapped a seven-game home losing streak and won for just the ninth time in 26 games while beating the Orioles for only the second time in their 10 meetings this year.

The Orioles lost an opportunity for their first three-game road sweep of the year and first in Seattle since May 16-18, 1997.

Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera (7-7) walked rookie Brian LaHair to lead off the seventh and Jeff Clement followed with an infield single. Yuniesky Betancourt drew just his seventh walk of the season to load the bases and bring in reliever Jamie Walker.

Ichiro Suzuki slapped a run-scoring grounder, which was misplayed by shortstop Alex Cintron, who was trying to get the runner at second. After Jeremy Reed struck out, Ibanez bounced his single to right field to plate two more runs and give the Mariners a 7-4 lead.

"I thought we had (Carlos) Silva on the ropes early in the game," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "A couple of balls that were hit hard took us out of innings. Cabrera got us deep in the game, but the turning point was walking guys in the bottom of the lineup."

Cabrera had entered the game with a 6-1 career record against Seattle and was 4-0 at Safeco Field. He was charged with seven runs - six earned - and two walks while striking out six over six innings.

"He (Ichiro) hit a ground ball to me and I should have caught it," Cabrera said. "That's what made the big inning right there. I was feeling good the whole game. I don't know what happened in the seventh."

Ibanez had two hits and drove in three runs while Jeremy Reed contributed two RBI with a triple and a sacrifice fly. Jeff Clement's run scoring single in the eighth accounted for Seattle's final run.

Silva, who had lasted a combined total of 5 2/3 innings in his previous two starts, made it through 6 2/3 frames in this one. He departed with the score tied after throwing a season-high 117 pitches, allowing four runs on nine hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

"Early on they were swinging it pretty good against him, but I really liked the way he kept his composure," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. "He really kept firing. His competitive nature continues to show itself and he really competed for us there."

The 29-year-old righthander, who signed a four-year contract during the offseason, is 1-12 in his last 19 starts.

"He (Silva) made some tough pitches that kept us in the game," Mariners catcher Jeff Clement said. "He didn't want to come out of there and tells you the kind of competitor he is."

J.J. Putz (3-4) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Putz, an all-star closer last year, has been struggling with injuries much of this season, but appears on his way to resuming his old role.

"The whole day was encouraging," said Putz, who has appeared in only 27 games with seven saves this year. "Just to be able to go out there and command the strike zone on a consistent basis is the biggest thing."

The Orioles led 4-3 on Kevin Millar's run-scoring single in the sixth, but Seattle tied it in the bottom of the frame when Jose Lopez powered a 2-0 pitch off the left field foul pole for his ninth homer of the year.

"The huge at-bat for us was Lopez' home run," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. "We were down in the ballgame and he really got into one. The wind helped that one because it had all the distance, but it was one of those ones that sometimes goes foul - and the wind kind of kept it fair."

Former Mariner Adam Jones, who was hitting .353 against his old team this year, was sidelined after fouling a ball off his left ankle Saturday night. An MRI taken Sunday was inclusive and he is listed as day-to-day.