Orioles score three in ninth for victory

BALTIMORE -- For eight innings, Felix Hernandez dominated the Baltimore Orioles. Unfortunately, after throwing 97 pitches, he didn’t have enough energy left to get three more out. So when the bottom of the ninth started with Hernandez in the dugout, the Orioles were thrilled.

“Once he came out, I knew we had a chance,” said Aubrey Huff, who had a run batted in during a three-run rally that provided Baltimore with a 3-2 victory Sunday. The Seattle bullpen was without injured closer J.J. Putz.

Hernandez gave up five hits, struck out six, walked two and left with a 2-0 lead. Mariners Manager John McLaren and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre discussed the possibility of sending him out in the ninth but decided against it.

“Mel told me Felix said he wasn’t 100%,” McLaren said. “So I made a change.”

Nick Markakis led off the ninth with a double against Eric O’Flaherty and scored on a groundout by Huff, leaving the bases empty with two out. After Luke Scott singled, Mark Lowe entered and gave up a single to Jay Payton to put runners at the corners. Lowe then threw a wild pitch to Ramon Hernandez to complete a walk and allow the tying run to score. Luis Hernandez followed with his first hit of the season, a liner to left center to score Payton without a throw.