Mariners’ Washburn 1-hits Orioles
July 7, 2009
SEATTLE (AP)—Jarrod Washburn(notes) is pitching better than ever in his 12th majorleague season.
Washburn tossed a one-hitter for his ninth career complete game, leading theSeattle Mariners to a 5-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night.
“It’s the best stuff I’ve ever had,” he said.
Nick Markakis(notes) had the only hit off Washburn (4-5), a two-out single in thefourth. Washburn faced just one batter over the minimum, issuing no walks andstriking out three in his 110-pitch effort.
Russell Branyan hit his 21st homer, Chris Woodward(notes) doubled in a pair of runsand Ichiro(notes) Suzuki had an RBI single for Seattle.
Washburn recorded the second one-hitter at Safeco Field and 10th infranchise history. It also was his first complete-game win since he beat theOakland Athletics 2-0 on April 25, 2007, with one of his two three-hit games,his previous career low.
“I think he’s pitching as good as I’ve ever seen him,” Mariners managerDon Wakamatsu said. “He has more command of certain pitches.”
Washburn, who was 5-14 with Seattle last year, said the biggest key to hissuccess this season has been his two-seam fastball. He worked on it in springtraining with pitching coach Rick Adair and bullpen coach John Wetteland.
Series at a Glance Baltimore 0 Seattle 5 Mon, Jul 6 – Final Baltimore at Seattle Tue, Jul 7 – 10:10 pm ET Baltimore at Seattle Wed, Jul 8 – 4:40 pm ET
“I’ve always had a two-seam fastball but it’s never sunk before,” he said.“The mechanical adjustments we made in spring training—Rick and Wette—theymade a little adjustment with me and it’s paid off. That’s what I owe it all to,that mechanical adjustment.”
Washburn threw mostly fastballs against the Orioles, mixing in a handful ofbreaking pitches and one changeup. He threw a two-seamer to Markakis that brokein on his hands, and he sliced into shallow left field.
“If it wasn’t for Nick’s little hit out there to left, he’s got a perfectgame,” Baltimore designated hitter Aubrey Huff(notes) said. “He was that good.”
Brad Bergesen(notes) (5-3) went six innings for the Orioles, allowing four runs,three earned, and six hits. He walked four and struck out four.
“I’ll take Bred Bergesen for the way he pitches, the way he competes, theway he keeps us in the game,” Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. “It justso happened that Washburn was much better tonight.”
Branyan connected on a 3-0 pitch in the first and Suzuki singled in RobJohnson(notes) in the fifth to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead. Woodward tacked on abases-loaded double in the sixth and Ryan Langerhans(notes) added a sacrifice fly inthe seventh.
NOTES: Washburn earned his first victory over the Orioles since May 24,2006. … LHP Erik Bedard(notes), on the disabled list since June 17 with shoulderinflammation, is expected to start Tuesday against the Orioles. … Mariners SSYuniesky Betancourt(notes) (strained left hamstring) will be sent out on a rehabassignment later this week but won’t be activated until after the All-Starbreak. … Mariners OF Endy Chavez(notes) will have surgery to repair a torn ligamentin his right knee on Thursday. He injured the knee June 19 in a collision withBetancourt. His recovery time is somewhere between nine to 12 months. … TheOrioles placed RHP Chris Ray(notes) on the DL with right biceps tendinitis and calledup RHP Kam Mickolio(notes) from Triple-A Norfolk.
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