Lind's HR carries Mariners to O's series win

May 19th, 2016

BALTIMORE -- Led by Adam Lind's three-run homer, the Mariners handed a red-hot Orioles club a series loss at home with Thursday's 7-2 win at Camden Yards.
Lind went deep off Baltimore starter Tyler Wilson in the sixth inning to give Seattle, which took a one-run lead the inning prior, some breathing room. Leonys Martin homered in the ninth, while Seth Smith and former Oriole Nelson Cruz also drove in runs for Seattle, which improved to 15-7 on the road.
"We've won a lot of series on the road, so we come in expecting to win," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "The Orioles have a really good team. We know that. They can really swing the bats, but I thought our pitching did a really outstanding job. We've played well on the road. We have a lot of confidence."
Mariners starter Nathan Karns went five innings and allowed just one run. Wilson went six and was charged with five runs.
"There in the sixth inning, sometimes you end up giving up three trying to stop one, and I think that's what happened," Wilson said. "I tried to make too good of pitches or tried to worry about stopping that guy from scoring on third, forcing the double play, and giving up three. And I think sometimes that happens in the game. Obviously, that's not how you want it to go down."
Baltimore got RBIs from Adam Jones and Pedro Alvarez.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Lind delivers the big blow: After being mostly contained for much of the afternoon by Wilson, the Mariners' lefty-heavy lineup finally got the bats going in the sixth. Robinson Cano led off with a double to right and took third on a fly ball by Cruz. Wilson then intentionally walked Kyle Seager before Lind worked a full count and then drove Wilson's fastball over the left-field fence for a three-run homer and 5-1 lead. It was Lind's third homer of the year, but second in four games. Martin capped the afternoon with a two-run shot off Dylan Bundy in the ninth -- his seventh homer of the season.

"It was a big at-bat," Lind said. "I had seen all of his pitches though the course of the day, so on a full count, I just wanted to get the ball in the air somewhere to score a run. I put a good enough swing on it and hit it far enough to go over the wall." More >
Camden Yards has been good to Cruz: Cruz continues to make the Orioles regret the day they let him leave as a free agent at the end of the 2014 season, when he led the Majors with 40 home runs. With a first-inning RBI single, Cruz extended his hitting streak to 15 games at Camden Yards. He has also reached base in 24 consecutive games in Baltimore. He homered in the series opener.

Third time not Wilson's charm: The third time through the order has been tough for Wilson, and it was again on Thursday. The righty cruised through the first five innings, and took the mound in the sixth still in line for a quality start before Lind's blast put that out of reach.
"I know it wasn't as good as [Wilson is] capable of. He came here with some pretty impressive numbers and looked like he was going to get it done again through six. They didn't let it happen," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "The walks were really what hurt him, especially at the bottom of the order. You just can't do that. He knows that."
Eighth-inning letdown: The O's best chance to break out for runs came in the eighth inning when they loaded the bases with one out. But Jones had an RBI groundout and Chris Davis flied out to quash any hopes of a rally.
"We've won a lot more than we've lost, and mostly everyone is coming around to where you want to see them. You run into a good team like this and it's going to happen," Mark Trumbo said of the loss. "But who wouldn't like to be in the position we're in right now? I think we're doing really well, and we've just got to keep going."

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Baltimore suffered its first home series loss of the season with Thursday's defeat. The loss also marked the Orioles' first series loss since April 25-27 at Tampa Bay.
"It's two common denominators of teams that play in October -- having an advantage at home and being competitive on the road. We know we have to follow that trend," Showalter said.
Orioles drop first home series of 2016
WHAT'S NEXT
Mariners:Hisashi Iwakuma is having an uneven season, going 1-4 with a 4.38 ERA in eight starts. The 35-year-old right-hander will be making his first career appearance against Cincinnati, which will counter with Dan Straily (2-1, 3.05 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. PT. The Mariners have been dominant on the road, going an AL-best 15-7 away from Safeco Field.
Orioles: Baltimore will head to the West Coast to begin a three-city, 10-day road trip with stops in Anaheim, Houston and Cleveland. Mike Wright will start on Friday against the Angels in a 10:05 p.m. ET game.
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