Coming back hot after a 27-minute rain delay, the Mariners battled back from two down to beat the Orioles 6-3. With the win, they reach .500 for the first time since May 10.
Pitcher Garrett Olson got off to a rough start, giving up two hits, walking two and allowing two runs in the first. But after that, he came back to shutout the Orioles over the next four innings, giving up just three hits.
First baseman Russell Branyan drove in three runs, including a solo home run in the seventh. He also scored two runs.
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The Mariners entered the rain delay in the third with one on and no outs. With only one hit in the first two innings, they came out of the rain delay with three-straight hits.
The three-run inning put Seattle in the lead for good, and from there, they padded the lead in the fifth and seventh.
The win was the first of the season for Olson through four starts. Despite that, he leaves the game with a decent 4.26 ERA, a welcome change from the five-plus and eight-plus ERAs from former starters Chris Jakubauskas and Carlos Silva.
Jakubauskas did appear in relief for two innings, giving up a run off a wild pitch in the seventh.
Closer David Aardsma struck out two with no hits in the ninth for his 11th save, as he continues to lock down a position that appeared to be a major weakness early in the season.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
