Jarrod Washburn

Who's hot Shannon Stewart is batting .407 (37-for-91) since joining the Twins in a trade from the Blue Jays. Who's not Bo Hart is 1-for-15 on the Cardinals' homestand, dropping his average to .299. Line of the day Nick Johnson, Yankees DH AB R H RBI HR 5 1 4 5 1 He said it "I said, `Thank you, but why couldn't you have done that in the fourth inning to take a little pressure off?' " Jarrod Washburn, Angels pitcher, who was losing a 1-0 three-hitter when Garret Anderson hit a two-out, three-run homer in the ninth On deck Mark Redman, who starts today for the Marlins, has allowed two earned runs against the Brewers this year.

This is not going to be breaking news, but it might be food for thought. Andy MacPhail is wondering - just as you are - whether he has done enough to build an adequate pitching staff. "I'm never going to be totally confident about pitching," he said Tuesday, the day before pitchers and catchers are officially required to report for spring training. "Nobody has enough pitching. Just look at the Red Sox last year. That's just the way our sport is." Of course, you could look at that comment as the standard mantra of just about every general manager in the history of the baseball business, or you could look at it in the specific context of the Orioles and wonder whether MacPhail is about to take a harder look at the remaining pitchers on the free-agent market.

SEATTLE -- Sometimes, it has been quick and sudden. Sunday, it took closer Chris Ray just seven pitches to blow a one-run lead as he gave up a game-winning, two-run home run in the ninth inning to Los Angeles Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero. Other times, the Orioles' meltdown has been protracted and unpredictable. Monday night, the Orioles had a one-run lead over the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning, and setup man Chad Bradford had gotten two quick outs. It appeared Ray would get the ball in the ninth with another one-run lead to protect.

WALKING FINE LINE Orioles pitchers issued eight walks, and half of those base runners came around to score. Four of the walks were handed out by starter Rich Hill, who lasted 5 1/3 innings. Matt Albers relieved him and surrendered two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Chris Ray then entered a tie game with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh inning and walked the only two batters he faced, bringing in two runs. WIETERS WOWS THEM Orioles catcher Matt Wieters had the most productive offensive day of his young career, going 3-for-3 with a homer, two runs and a walk in four plate appearances.

Scouting report: Angels vs. O's At Oriole Park at Camden Yards Day Time TV Starters Tonight 7:05 CSN John Lackey (7-3, 3.24) vs. Sean Douglass (0-1, 5.08) Tomorrow 7:05 CSN Mickey Callaway (1-0, 3.00) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (14-7, 3.39) Sunday 1:35 54, 50 Jarrod Washburn (16-5, 3.38) vs. undecided Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) Angels update Funny how the Angels have won seven straight games and 10 of their past 12, but aren't even the hottest team in their division. The Oakland Athletics won't allow them to gain any ground in the American League West unless the A's are idle, but the Angels have built a four-game lead in the wild-card race.

SEATTLE -- The idea was to somehow find a way to get the ball to closer Chris Ray with a lead, no matter the means. It began with five innings from John Halama, who made his last start eight months ago and continued with a shaky one-third of an inning from top prospect Adam Loewen in his major league debut. Todd Williams came on for 1 2/3 innings and then LaTroy Hawkins sweated through two outs, and at last, Ray was on the mound with the Orioles clinging to a one-run lead and the tying run on third with two outs in the eighth inning.

Luke's hot hand cools Orioles slugger Luke Scott, who was 8-for-15 with six homers and 14 RBIs in four games since coming off the disabled list Wednesday, finally cooled down Sunday. He struck out in his first two at-bats and lined out in his third against Detroit starter Edwin Jackson. It ended his seven-game hitting streak and four-game homer streak. More streaks halted Jackson ended several Orioles hitting streaks: Aubrey Huff's (eight games), Brian Roberts' (seven games) and Cesar Izturis' (five games)

They got great defense, a solid outing from their starting pitcher, some key outs from their bullpen and three home runs from their offense. It's the type of effort the Orioles would love to bottle up and dispense many times in this season of low expectations. Kevin Millar, Ramon Hernandez and Melvin Mora all hit home runs and Steve Trachsel held down the Seattle Mariners for 5 2/3 innings, allowing the Orioles to secure a series-opening 7-4 victory in front of an announced 14,429 last night at Camden Yards.

CALLING THE SHOT Before the game, Orioles assistant general manager and director of baseball administration Scott Proefrock predicted to a reporter that Jay Gibbons was going to hit a big home run that night. When Gibbons stepped to the plate in the sixth inning with two men on and Seattle leading 2-0, Proefrock reminded the reporter of his prediction, saying it was going to come in this at-bat. On cue, Gibbons crushed Felix Hernandez's 2-0 pitch off the windows of the Hit it Here Cafe in the second deck.

SEATTLE -- Sometimes, it has been quick and sudden. Sunday, it took closer Chris Ray just seven pitches to blow a one-run lead as he gave up a game-winning, two-run home run in the ninth inning to Los Angeles Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero. Other times, the Orioles' meltdown has been protracted and unpredictable. Monday night, the Orioles had a one-run lead over the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning, and setup man Chad Bradford had gotten two quick outs. It appeared Ray would get the ball in the ninth with another one-run lead to protect.

Orioles (27-30) @Mariners (28-25) Day ................... Time .............. TV ................. Starters Tonight ........... 10:05 ............ MASN ........ Erik Bedard (4-3, 3.67) ........................................................................ vs. Felix Hernandez (3-3, 4.10) Tomorrow ...... 10:05 .......... MASN2 ........ Brian Burres (3-2, 3.08) ........................................ ..................................... vs. Cha Seung Baek (3-2, 4.93) Wednesday .....

SEATTLE -- The idea was to somehow find a way to get the ball to closer Chris Ray with a lead, no matter the means. It began with five innings from John Halama, who made his last start eight months ago and continued with a shaky one-third of an inning from top prospect Adam Loewen in his major league debut. Todd Williams came on for 1 2/3 innings and then LaTroy Hawkins sweated through two outs, and at last, Ray was on the mound with the Orioles clinging to a one-run lead and the tying run on third with two outs in the eighth inning.

Given 20 minutes notice that he was starting last week because of an injury, Orioles pitcher Eric DuBose threw six scoreless innings against Oakland. Interim manager Sam Perlozzo joked that he should spring the news on DuBose in the same late fashion again if it meant getting similar results. Two days turned out to be too much. Serving again as a replacement for Daniel Cabrera, who went on the disabled list yester day, DuBose was gone after the second inning, a barrage of hits sending him to the bench and making a late rally nothing more than a cruel tease in a 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Angels before 31,768 at Camden Yards.