French pitches Seattle past the Birds to even the series

A 24-year-old left-hander making his first career appearance vs. the Orioles shut them down tonight and took a no-hitter into the sixth as Seattle beat the Birds 4-0, in front of 14,739 at Camden Yards. The Orioles were shutout for the eighth time in 2010, as Seattle evened the series at a win each. Luke French, who had allowed 9 ER in 20 innings in three August starts, gave up just three hits over 7 2/3 with three walks and strikeouts. Josh Bell got the first Baltimore hit with a single to left with one out in the sixth. A Nick Markakis walk later in that inning put two men on, but Ty Wigginton flied out to end that threat. The O's got leadoff walks in the second and fourth, but could not score. In the O's eighth, Bell doubled and advanced to third on a Brian Roberts infield single with two outs. Brandon League then replaced French with the M's up just 1-0 and got Markakis to ground out. French was making just his fifth Major League start of 2010 and the 17th of his career. He entered with an ERA of 5.79 in 11 career Mariners starts. He has spent most of this year in Triple-A, going 11-3, 2.94 in 17 starts with Tacoma. He improved to 2-3, 4.02. The Mariners broke the scoreless tie when Adam Moore led off the fifth with a single to left off Kevin Millwood. He scored when the next batter, Matt Tuiasosopo double to left. Tuiasosopo gave Seattle big insurance and added to their one-run edge when he hit a three-run homer to left in ninth off Armando Gabino. That gave him a 4-RBI night. Millwood took the loss, allowing one run and six hits over eight innings, throwing 112 pitches. He falls to 2-13, 5.49. In his last 21 starts, he has gotten just 45 runs of support while he has been in the game. The O's fall to 10-5 under Buck Showalter, 25-35 at home and 42-78 on the season. In the finale of this series Wednesday at 7:05, it's Jeremy Guthrie (7-11, 3.88) vs. David Pauley (1-4, 3.31).