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Scott powers Orioles past Mariners 12-4

Jul 8, 2009 - 6:54 AM SEATTLE(AP) -- In his own way, Luke Scott came to the defense of his manager Dave Trembley, whose animated first-inning outburst led to his ejection.

Scott had a career-high seven RBI and three hits to power the Baltimore Orioles to a 12-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

He began with a two-run single in the first, followed by a two-run triple in the four-run sixth and a three-run home run in the six-run seventh. His previous high for RBIs was five.

"Luke comes in (the clubhouse) and I said, 'hey, get me a couple would you?' He said, 'skip, if they throw it across the plate I'll have a chance. Then he hit that triple," Trembley said. Then he came in again and said, 'next time they throw it over the plate I'm going to hit it out of the ballpark.' I said, 'you do that,' and he did."

However, it was Scott's first-inning single to center that set the stage for Trembley's outburst. Center-fielder Gutierrez's scooped up the ball but his throw home flew into the stands. Trembley argued that the lead runner, Nolan Reimold, should have scored because the base runner is allowed two bases from where they were at the point the ball left Gutierrez's hand.

The manager went out to argue to no avail. During the side change, Trembley asked Reimold where he was and he told him he was past second base. Trembley had enough. He then went out again, screamed at umpire Tom Hallion, tossed his cap and was tossed.

Gutierrez hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning to give Seattle the lead. That extended his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games. He is hitting .500 (20 of 40) during the surge.

But Trembley's ejection seemed to bolster the Orioles, especially Scott.

"I talked to him after my second at-bat and he asked me, 'put one out for me,"' Scott said. All right, if I get something to hit. I put a pretty good swing on it."

Trailing 3-2 entering the sixth, Nick Markakis singled off Chris Jakubauskas (5-6). With one out, Aubrey Huff was intentionally walked. Reimold, who had two hits and three RBI, tied it with a RBI single to right.

Scott followed with a low liner to center that went to the wall. He scored on Melvin Mora's single that made it 6-3.

"We had a good game going and then the wheels fell off," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "Jak got through the fifth then came out in the sixth and tried to protect the lead. It really came down to getting behind on Huff. That was kind of the turning point of the game. I felt we should have challenged him a little more."

The Orioles added six runs in the seventh. Ty Wigginton had an RBI double, Reimold had a two-run single, and Scott connected on his 17th homer of the season to make it 12-3.

Mark Hendrickson (4-4) pitched 2 2-3 scoreless innings for the win.

Seattle starter Erik Bedard, who had missed the last 25 games with left shoulder inflammation, worked the first four innings. He allowed two runs, two hits, walked one and struck out eight, matching his season high. He was on a 75-pitch count.

"The first inning was a little off but then I started throwing strikes and getting outs," Bedard said. "My arm felt good. I'm ready to go."

Ken Griffey, Jr's eighth-inning double was his 514th. That tied former teammate Edgar Martinez for 39th on the career list.

Notes: 2B Brian Roberts was scratched from the Orioles lineup with an upper respiratory infection. This is something he has been fighting for a while," said Trembley. ... SS Cesar Izturis (appendicitis) began a rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Bowie. to make roster room for Bedard, the Mariners placed DH Mike Sweeney on the DL, retroactive to Monday. He's had a couple incidents with his back spasms," manager Don Wakamatsu said. We're just going to make sure and get that checked out." ... Ichiro Suzuki has turned down MLB's request to participate in the Home Run Derby. Griffey wore a single white batting glove in his first at-bat as a tribute to Michael Jackson.