Tuesday May 31 at the Mariners

Opponent: Seattle Mariners
Outcome: W
Score: 12-5
Streak: W1
Record: 11-39
Rank: 7th
GB: 22.5

The Orioles had only scored seven runs in their previous six games (going 1-5 over that stretch) so this evening's game must have been very cathartic.  The twelve runs they scored would be the most they scored in any game all season. 

The Orioles got on the board quickly tonight against Mariners starter Ed Nunez.  Joe Orsulak led off the game with a single and scored on Eddie Murray's RBI single three batters later.  They wasted a couple offensive opportunities with inning ending double plays in the top of the second and third innings but cashed in on them in the fourth inning.  Larry Sheets led off the inning with a double and Jim Dwyer followed with a walk.  Mickey Tettleton then singled to bring Sheets in with the second run of the game and that was it for Nunez.  Seattle manager Dick Williams brought in Dennis Powell who struck out Wade Rowdon for the first out of the inning.  But Rene Gonzales walked to load the bases and Powell then hit Orsulak to bring in another run.  Powell struck out Fred Lynn for the second out but then walked Cal Ripken to force in the third run of the inning.  Powell finally got the third out on a fly ball from Murray.  Murray was the sixth batter that Powell had faced in the inning but the first one to put the ball into play.  The Orioles had had another one of those weird innings where they had scored three runs on two hits, three walks and a hit batter.

The Mariners would mount a comeback in the bottom of the fourth.  Three consecutive singles by Henry Cotto, Scott Bradley and Alvin Davis brought their first run of the game in.  Ken Phelps then walked to load the bases.  Orioles starter got Mickey Brantley to ground into a run scoring double play but then he walked Mike Kingery and gave up an RBI single to Rick Renteria.  Orioles manager Frank Robinson went to the bullpen and brought in Dave Schmidt who got Rey Quinones to ground out to end the inning.

The Orioles would get another run in the top of the fifth when Sheets doubled to lead off the inning, Dwyer singled to move him to third and Tettleton scored him on a sacrifice fly.  But Rowdon hit into a rally-killing double play for the second time in the game to prevent any further scoring that inning.

They scored three more runs in the top of the sixth.  Gonzales and Orsulak singled to open the inning and Powell was lifted after striking out Lynn for the first out.  New pitcher Julio Solano got Cal Ripken to ground out for the second out (moving the runners up) but he then walked Murray to load the bases for Sheets.  Sheets then singled to bring in Gonzales and Orsulak and Jim Dwyer followed with another single that brought Murray in.  Sheets however was thrown out trying to advance to third to end the inning.

The Mariners got a run back in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run off the bat of Phelps but the Orioles got that back and then some in the top of the seventh.  With two outs Gonzales hit a solo home run and then after a single by Orsulak, Lynn and Ripken had back-to-back home runs, making the score 12-4.  The M's would get one more run on an RBI double by Cotto in the bottom of the seventh but they would fall short by seven runs.

The Orioles went 10-17 over the month of May for a winning percentage of .370.  They were outscored by their opponents 137 to 98 during the month.