Jimenez Struggled As Mariners Racked Up RBIs
BALTIMORE -- Seattle's Nelson Cruz had one of the best years of his career as a member of the Baltimore Orioles in 2014, when he led the majors in home runs.
Cruz found his groove again at Camden Yards with a homer and five RBIs, as the Mariners continued their dominance on the road with a 10-0 victory over Baltimore on Tuesday night.
Seattle improved to an American League-best 14-6 away from Safeco Field and bounced back from a three-game sweep by its AL West rival, the Los Angeles Angels, over the weekend. The Mariners handed the Orioles their most lopsided loss of the season.
"It's just another game but I'm excited to be back and see the fans," said Cruz, who went 3-for-3. "I feel more comfortable when I play here."
Wade Miley (4-2) entered the game 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in three career starts against Baltimore. After a rocky first inning, where he allowed two walks and loaded the bases, Miley settled down and retired 10 consecutive batters before Matt Wieters led off the fifth with a single to center.
Miley threw six innings of two-hit ball with a strikeout and three walks.
"Any time you get runs like that, you just want to make sure you go out there and get the guys back in the dugout and let them keep swinging," Miley said. "I was trying to get ahead and go from there."
Robinson Cano went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs, while Kyle Seager added his eighth home run of the season for the Mariners.
Already staked with a 7-0 lead, Seattle further distanced itself with an RBI double by Cano and a two-run shot by Cruz in the sixth.
Despite enduring its worst outing of the season, Baltimore lost for just the third time in the past 10 games.
Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez (2-4) struggled early with his command, allowing a two-RBI single by Cruz in the first. Cruz then went to second on an errant pickoff throw and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Jimenez, though, recovered and struck out the side after facing seven batters.
"It was nice to jump on Jimenez in that first inning," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "It kind of gets us going on the road trip and everything else."
From there, though, Jimenez was solid and retired 12 of the next 13 hitters he faced before Norichika Aoki managed an infield single in the fifth. That proved to be costly as Jimenez walked Seth Smith before Cano and Cruz followed with back-to-back RBI singles for a 4-0 lead that ended the right-hander's night.
Brian Matusz entered, and three pitches later, allowed the three-run homer to Seager.
"It's frustrating, especially the situation there with Seager, with Ubaldo's runners on base, you want to get the job done," Matusz said. "I think all of us in the bullpen, we take pride in being able to get a job done and so far this year, I haven't been able to do it. It's frustrating and things can only get better from here."
Jimenez was charged with six runs on five hits over just 4 1/3 innings -- his shortest outing of the season.
"It's disappointing," Jimenez said. "As a starting pitcher, you want to get deeper and give your team a chance to win. But it's just part of the game. I have to keep working and find a way to move on and get ready for my next one."
