Showalter, Wilson and Wieters after O's blowout loss in Seattle

SEATTLE - Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer in the first inning tonight for Seattle and Mike Zunino added a two-run shot in the second. But the Mariners were not close to done at that point.

Seattle blasted five homers tonight off O's pitchers and right-hander Tyler Wilson allowed a career-high eight runs as the Mariners routed the Orioles 12-6 in front of 29,362 at Safeco Field.

The O's came here on a seven-game win streak but have lost three in a row to a Seattle team that is 12-6 versus the American League East and 5-1 against the Orioles.

The O's five homers allowed tied their season high for the third time and it's the first time they've ever allowed five against Seattle. The O's rotation keeps springing leaks and it was a flood at times tonight. The O's starters have pitched five or fewer innings in five of the last seven and 12 of 20 games.

Manager Buck Showalter was asked what he can do about that. Will he consider changes?

"Yes. You know the answer to that question before you ask it," he said. "It's kind of tough out here this far away. You've got to prepare before games, which you try to do, and during the games, which we tried to do. Unfortunately, Norfolk played (12) innings, used seven pitchers. (Ashur) Tolliver got hurt tonight. So we've got some plans in place. We're working on it right now. As soon as we get through here, we'll finish it up."

Here was Showalter's take on Wilson tonight: "He's just not quite as crisp as he was. He's in the 80-plus inning mark, and he's just not carrying the same crispness that he had earlier in the season. It happens with a lot of pitchers that are pitching every fifth day up here."

Catcher Matt Wieters was asked if he's concerned about the rotation.

"No it's not concerning," he said. "We are going to have to keep working and get better. We're in a good spot now and we just have to continue to improve. Our staff works hard and they'll keep working hard and we'll get the best out of them."

Prior to tonight, Wilson's career high for runs allowed was six on Sept. 18, 2015 versus Tampa Bay. But he served up three homers - also a career high - and the eight runs and nine hits over three innings plus three batters. When he was replaced in the fourth, the Orioles were in an 8-1 hole they could not climb out of.

"I definitely don't want to take any credit away from what they did out there for lack of my performance, but I obviously didn't throw the ball very well," Wilson said as his ERA rose to 5.22 in 16 games. "A pretty frustrating outing in the sense that our guys are out there battling. I didn't do my job in pulling the weight tonight. I need to do a lot of things better, and obviously I'll get back at it starting tomorrow. It's a frustrating thing,"

So the Orioles need a win on Sunday to salvage the fourth game of this series at 4:10 p.m. Eastern time. Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (5-7, 6.63 ERA) faces right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (7-6, 4.34 ERA). The last time Iwakuma faced the Orioles, he pitched a no-hitter last Aug. 12 at Safeco Field.