Pearce hits first career slam (O's win 5-4)

Steve Pearce was hitless in four at-bats last night, swung at the first pitch a few times and saw his average tumble to .193.

Pearce remained in the Orioles' lineup today for their series finale against the Mariners, moving from left field to second base. He came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning, Chris Davis reaching ahead of him on a walk by left-hander J.A Happ.

Take a pitch? Forget about it.

Pearce stayed in attack mode, swinging at an 85 mph changeup and sending it into the second row of seats in left field for his first career grand slam. The ball eluded the glove of Brad Miller, who tried to make a leaping catch, and the Orioles had a 4-0 lead.

Pearce has hit four home runs, including two over the first two games of the season. Jonathan Schoop has the other grand slam this year, on April 11 against the Blue Jays.

Manny Machado led off with a single and has reached base in 14 of the last 16 games. Delmon Young singled with two outs and Davis walked.

Orioles starter Chris Tillman retired the side in order on nine pitches in the first, but he walked Nelson Cruz leading off the second and Kyle Seager followed with a single into right. Cruz scored on Welington Castillo's sacrifice fly.

Dustin Ackley struck out on the 10th pitch of the at-bat to end the inning. Tillman threw 28 pitches to raise his total to 37.

I wrote earlier today that catcher Matt Wieters still intends to meet up with the Orioles in Miami on Friday.

"I think Matt wants to get with John (Russell) and get around his teammates, get back in that environment," said manager Buck Showalter. "I think it's a good progression for him and I think it's what Matt wants to do, too. Nobody knows what's going on with his elbow and everything else more than him and I think he needs to get out of (extended spring training), too.

"He's been a diligent rehab guy, almost to a fault. I think he needs to get out of there physically, mentally and emotionally. I think it's a good time for him. Believe me, we'll do a lot of work in Miami."

Wieters caught one Grapefruit League game on March 17 before being shut down with tendinitis in his surgically repaired right elbow. Showalter was asked whether that game delayed Wieters' return to the active roster or if the timetable would have remained the same.

"I think a lot of it was a test to see where he was," Showalter said. "Who knows? If anything, it helped us make better decisions and know that he was more on the 11-12 month plan than the ninth month that he was hoping.

"I think he showed a lot of maturity with it. Matt knows what has to happen for him to be able to contribute here and I think he kind of used that as a gauge a little bit. I look at it as a positive in the long run. It was part of the progression. I think hindsight it was actually something positive that he was able to make a good decision there and not push it along where he would have really had a setback that would have required some other things. Most of it now is the scarring over and just making sure everything around it (is OK)."

Wieters has been swinging the bat from both sides of the plate for an extended period.

"You'd be surprised how many at-bats he's had since spring training started until now," Showalter said. "He's got to be pushing 200-300 mark. But it's going to be a big jump in level of play, quality of pitching. But it's also hard to hit when you're swinging and ducking at the same time at that level."

Update: We're in a rain delay after 2 1/2 innings with the Orioles leading 4-1.

Tillman walked two batters in the third and stranded them by striking out Cruz. He's walked three batters today and thrown 58 pitches.

Update II: Play resumed after a 2 hour, 5 minute delay.

Brian Matusz will replace Tillman, who allowed one run and one hit in three innings, with three walks and two strikeouts. He threw 58 pitches, 32 strikes.

Tillman hasn't won since April 18.

Update III: Matusz allowed two runs and threw 39 pitches in the fourth inning.

The Mariners sent two pinch-hitters to the plate, including Rickie Weeks, who delivered a two-run single on the 10th pitch of the at-bat.

Matusz, making only his second appearances since May 10, also allowed three hits, walked a batter and struck out two. Brad Brach is warming.

Update IV: J.J. Hardy singled with one out in the eighth to score Chris Davis, who reached on an infield hit, and give the Orioles a 5-4 lead.

The Orioles didn't have a hit since Jimmy Paredes' single in the second.

Seattle tied the game in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk by Darren O'Day. Tommy Hunter escaped a jam in the eighth, leaving the bases loaded.

Update V: The Orioles outlasted the Mariners today, taking the series with a 5-4 win before an announced crowd of 33,085 at Camden Yards.

Hunter gets the win and Britton notches his ninth save.

The Orioles have won three of their last four games and are 18-20. Next up: The Marlins in Miami.