Erik Bedard

ARLINGTON, TEXAS -- They should have had the game tied in the seventh inning, but a blown call by plate umpire Brian Knight left them angry and still one run short. No matter, Brian Roberts tied the game with a one-out, ninth-inning RBI double off closer Eric Gagne. That served only to delay the Orioles' disappointment. After fighting back from a three-run hole and fighting through Knight's poor call, the Orioles watched Paul Shuey surrender the game-winning RBI single to Michael Young as the Texas Rangers prevailed, 4-3, in 10 innings last night before an announced 24,035 at Ameriquest Field.

The Mariners have won seven of their past 10 games, including taking two of three from the Orioles last week at Safeco Field. They've played 27 one-run games this season and are 15-12 in those contests. In the two games since losing his 27-game hitting streak, Ichiro Suzuki is 5-for-9. Since being slotted into the No. 2 spot in the batting order, first baseman Russell Branyan is 6-for-17 with two home runs. Three Mariners - Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn and Felix Hernandez - rank in the top 10 in the American League in ERA. Left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith, who has been on the disabled list with triceps tendinitis, was supposed to make his season debut Thursday, but it appears plans have changed after he allowed 12 runs and 14 hits in 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start Friday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- When the Tampa Bay Devil Rays scored their 10th run in the fifth inning last night at Tropicana Field, the scoreboard in right-center field had a brief hiccup. For a few moments, the 9 turned into a 0, showing that the operators here don't get a lot of practice with double-digit innings. O's@Devil Rays Today, 1:15 p.m., Ch. 13, 1090 AM Starters: Orioles' Erik Bedard (11-6, 4.02) vs. Scott Kazmir (10-7, 3.40)

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Orioles right fielder Jay Gibbons lay on the ground deep in the right-field corner, as fireworks shot out from beyond the center-field wall at Angels Stadium. Vladimir Guerrero's inside-the-park home run had just given the Los Angeles Angels a two-run eighth-inning lead, but the scene in right field made the score almost an afterthought. After a clearly hobbled Gibbons overthrew the cutoff man, he dropped to the ground. O's@Angels Tonight, 10:05, Ch. 54, 1090 AM Starters: Orioles' Erik Bedard (5-3, 5.08)

ARLINGTON, TEXAS -- When he recorded his last strikeout on a night full of them, Erik Bedard pounded his glove with his fist and then hugged his catcher, Ramon Hernandez. It was a display of emotion the Orioles have rarely seen from the stoic Bedard, but it certainly was fitting for the occasion. In the Orioles' 3-0 victory over the Texas Rangers last night at Ameriquest Field, Bedard tied a franchise record with 15 strikeouts, including 10 of 12 batters at one point. He faced the minimum number of batters, as the Rangers had two hits and no walks and had both base runners erased on double plays.

Poll results Last week, we asked what should Orioles president Andy MacPhail's main priority be this offseason. Signing injured No. 1 starter Erik Bedard to a long-term deal before he's eligible for free agency after 2009 was clearly the primary concern among the 3,860 who voted. Extend Erik Bedard's contract beyond 2009, 45.3 percent (1,750 votes) Trade Miguel Tejada, 20.5 percent (792 votes) Sign or trade for a middle-of-the-order hitter, 17.6 percent (678 votes) Sign or trade for a veteran starting pitcher, 5.9 percent (229 votes)

Shut out through seven innings, the Orioles lost to the Florida Marlins yesterday, 6-1, at Roger Dean Stadium. Carl Pavano tossed four scoreless innings, the only glitch a single by Javy Lopez in the fourth. Mike Fontenot drove in the Orioles' only run with a single in the eighth that scored Jose Morban, who doubled with one out. Fontenot also doubled in the sixth. Tim Raines and Jose Bautista singled in the ninth, giving the Orioles six hits. They were held to two in Friday's road loss to the Marlins, and only had two going into the eighth yesterday.

Catcher Javy Lopez hit his second home run in two games, left-hander Erik Bedard threw six scoreless innings and the Orioles beat the Florida Marlins, 5-4, last night in a game that was delayed one hour because an electrical glitch kept the stadium lights off. Bedard was responsible for the other power outage, holding the Marlins to two hits and retiring the last 13 batters he faced. "At first, I was a little anxious to get it going," said Bedard (21 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings this spring)

Playing his last home exhibition game of the spring, Rafael Palmeiro hit a two-run, walk-off homer off Antonio Alfonseca to give the Orioles a 7-6 victory over the Florida Marlins yesterday. Palmeiro launched the first pitch from Alfonseca over the right-field bleachers to cap a three-run rally that began when Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora singled with none out in the ninth inning. Chris Gomez put down a sacrifice bunt, and Sammy Sosa lined out to left field, allowing Roberts to score.