So much for the Schedule Gods

The M’s and the Orioles were able to stay dry yesterday, but still Steve Trachsel somehow, and in some way, was able to beat the M’s and pick up his first career against Seattle, with the Orioles coming on top of a 7-4 score.  It definitely wasn’t Trachsel’s dominating command of the strike zone that did the M’s in- of the 83 pitches he threw going into the sixth inning, 43 were outside the strike zone.  Regardless of the expected mediocrity exhibited by the Orioles’ veteran starter, the Mariners were unable to get anything going, as Trachsel kept the Mariners to just six base runners in his near six innings of work.

Jarrod Washburn labored in his start yesterday as well, tossing 103 pitches in five innings.  But when he left the game, the M’s were down by just one run, 3-2, thanks to a two-run home-run blast by Adrian Beltre in the fourth inning.  However, a melt down by the M’s bullpen- four runs allowed in an inning a third by Cha Seung Baek and Ryan Rowland-Smith- did the Mariners in, despite a two-run moonshot by Richie Sexson in the ninth inning.  After Sexson’s blast, our friend George Sherrill entered the game to pick up his first save against his former team, coaxing two flyouts to close out the ballgame.

So there you have it.  Two two-run shots by the M’s big bats- Beltre and Sexson- and the M’s are unable to pull out a win.  That’s a bit troubling to say the least.  If the rest of the M’s offense can’t make anything happen against a washed-up veteran like Steve Trachsel, how are they expected to fare against young fireballer Adam Loewen, who is the Oriole’s less-dominating version of injury-ridden Rich Harden?

Miguel Batista takes his turn in the rotation, attempting to revert to the M’s string of strong starting pitching that marked the first three outings against Texas.  Its been nearly four years since Miguel made his last start against Baltimore, in which he coughed up seven runs in two innings.  Although Camden Yards slightly trends towards pitching, it’s not nearly as much of a pitcher’s park as Safeco.  Plus Batista has dropped all three of his decisions against the Orioles, allowing nearly two base runners an inning (50 in 26 innings)  with an ERA of 7.86 against Baltimore.  Kevin Millar has been efficient against Batista, knocking in ten RBIs on five hits in 24 at-bats, while all of Brian Roberts’ four hits off of Batista in 14 at-bats have gone for doubles.

In short, Batista has his work cut out for him, and any giddiness after the first series against the Rangers needs to be tempered.  I’m not high on the M’s chances in tonight’s ballgame, and assuming the weather cooperates and they’re able to get it in, I’m picking the Orioles to come out on top by a 8-3 score.