Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis began today leading the majors with a .330 average from the leadoff spot.
Of course, he singled today leading off the bottom of the first. That's what he does.
Adam Jones doubled after Manny Machado grounded into a double play. Two hits off former Oriole Joe Saunders, but no runs.
Jones began today leading the majors with a .387 average in day games.
Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen retired the Mariners in order on nine pitches in the top of the first, including seven strikes, but back-to-back doubles by Michael Morse and Raul Ibanez in the second gave Seattle a 1-0 lead.
Morse is now 4-for-6 with a double and home run lifetime against Chen. Ibanez hadn't faced him until today.
Machado is the first Oriole to have 40 or more doubles and 10 or more home runs through Aug. 3, and just the fifth player since 2000, joining Chase Utley (2007, 41/17), Dan Uggla (2007, 40/22), Garret Anderson (2002, 40/18) and Carlos Delgado (2000, 41/32).
Chris Davis (55) and Jones (50) are the only pair of teammates this season to each have at least one RBI in 50 or more games. The only other players with 50 or more are Allen Craig, Jay Bruce, Miguel Cabrera and Paul Goldschmidt.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter talked earlier today about Wilson Betemit's first rehab game Tuesday in the Gulf Coast League and the horrific knee injury, sustained in a March 25 exhibition game, that has kept him in Sarasota since spring training.
"I'm dwelling on the fact that, I remember running on the field when he did that and knew that there was no way he just kind of rolled an ankle," Showalter said. "If you had said he's got a chance to play games in early August, I'd have signed up for it in blood in Sarasota.
"It's been a long road for him. He's had a tough year. He's had some people close to him pass away."
Betemit's rehab assignment can last a maximum of 20 days, but it's possible that he could agree to have it extended, making it unclear whether he will return before rosters expand on Sept. 1.
"I'm hoping it kind of gets him thinking back in that mode," Showalter said of Betemit progressing through the rehab assignment. "It's been a long time since he's been in game mode, so it's still expected to be a slow process."
Update: The Orioles are 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and have stranded six runners in four innings, and they continue to trail 1-0.
They wasted a leadoff single in the first, back-to-back singles to open the second, a walk and single to open the third and a one-out double in the fourth.
Valencia's double snapped an 0-for-23 streak.
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