Wrapping up a 5-2 win

Orioles manager Buck Showalter needed tonight's starter to pitch deep into the game. Chris Tillman was the right guy at the right time.

Showalter also needed Zach Britton to get the last five outs. Again, the right guy.

Tillman registered his sixth consecutive quality start by holding the Mariners to two runs over 6 1/2 innings, and the baton passed from Brad Brach to Britton never touched the ground in a 5-2 victory at rainy Camden Yards.

The Mariners loaded the bases with one out in the eighth and the Orioles ahead 4-2, but Britton gained a five-out save to increase his total to 11. He struck out pinch-hitter Dae-Ho Lee, induced a ground ball from Chris Iannetta to strand three in the eighth, and survived a leadoff double and wild pitch in the ninth, retiring the next three batters while stranding Ketel Marte.

"He's had four days off," Showalter said. "We would have done it last night with three. Physically, he hasn't pitched in four days. This would have been five. We knew going into the game that he'd be available in the eighth inning."

May as well go with your best reliever from one of baseball's best bullpens. Games can be saved in any inning.

"I thought about some times you could see a spot in the seventh inning, but you can't do that every night over 162 games. It'll catch up with you," Showalter said. "I think we've got three guys with the same number of appearances now and we've got to keep spreading them around. But we'll only do that when he's rested. Same way with Darren (O'Day) and same way with Brad and all our guys when we go multiple innings with them.

"Trying to make sure we have Dylan (Bundy) for long tomorrow because we're back here in about 20 minutes. Seems like a split doubleheader."

Brian Matusz is the only other left-hander in the bullpen, and as long as he's struggling, Britton may be called upon more often to get out a tough left-handed hitter prior to the ninth.

"Brad is like having a left-handed pitcher," Showalter said. "He can defend himself real well against left-handers, so we feel confident there. And so can Darren. But until Brian gets it going ...

"I don't think it would have changed tonight, but it does affect some games at times. Because the high leverage, high pressure, you're trying to let Brian work his way back into that role if you can. But sometimes the game doesn't let you."

Mark Trumbo and Matt Wieters hit back-to-back home runs to start the bottom of the second inning, the seventh time the Orioles have done so this season. Trumbo passed Manny Machado for the team lead in home runs with 12.

Wieters broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double after Trumbo's one-out single up the middle. Hyun Soo Kim walked and later scored in the fifth on Taijuan Walker's wild pitch.

Wieters doubled with one out in the eighth, took third on Ryan Flaherty's single and scored on Jonathan Schoop's fly ball to medium right field. Wieters had his first three-hit game of the season.

"It's very easy to forget this guy has 20-plus home runs, hitting .270, .280 and is very capable of driving in big runs and being a solid defensive catcher," Showalter said. "That's why he's been to All-Star games and why his services are coveted, because he brings a lot to the table. You get that part of it going, I think that was a little reminder of what he's capable of."

Wieters again caught on back-to-back nights, the caution surrounding his elbow not quite as intense.

"Matt has a lot of input on it," Showalter said. "He agrees to everything John (Russell) and Richie (Bancells) and I talk about for the most part. It's not a physical thing anymore. We're still aware of it, cautious of it and we work off of it because he wants to be around all year. We're hoping at some point it won't be a topic of conversation, but trying to be smart in April and May."

Tillman allowed four hits, walked three and struck out six, including Nelson Cruz twice. He threw 109 pitches, 65 for strikes. His ERA actually climbed from 2.58 to 2.61 in 51 2/3 innings.

"Chris was good," Showalter said. "That's a good offensive team. A lot of left-handed hitters. The changeup was good for him. He was solid again. What's he got, 6-1? He was good. Carried stuff the whole outing."

The first inning hasn't been kind to Tillman. Actually, the opposing batters have created the most trouble. But he retired the Mariners in order tonight on only nine pitches.

A popup, ground ball and fly ball got Tillman back in the dugout unscathed.

Before tonight, Tillman had allowed six runs and 13 hits in the first inning over his eight starts. The damage included four doubles and a home run. He also walked three batters.

Tillman was able to take some air out of his 6.75 ERA in the opening frame. Opponents were batting .371/.450/.571.

"I think he's been better than he has been in the past," Showalter said. "He's come out a lot crisper this year. I think it's helped him have success. That's one of the things that he ... You may have numbers to back up what you're saying, but it seems like he's been crisper in the first couple innings than he has been in the past and I think that's one of the differences between last year and this year."

Tillman struck out Cruz on a slider to begin the second inning, a noteworthy achievement because Cruz is a terror. He also struck out Adam Lind on a 94 mph fastball.

The Mariners put two runners on base in the second on a walk to Kyle Seager and a two-out, broken-bat single to Iannetta. Marte grounded out on Tillman's 28th pitch of the game.

Leonys Martin, who made a sensational leaping catch in front of the Orioles' bullpen to rob Adam Jones in the first inning, led off the third by lining a ball over the flag court in right field to reduce the lead to 2-1.

The Mariners tied the game in the top of the fourth on Iannetta's sacrifice fly after Cruz's leadoff double, a walk and a ground ball to the right side. But they were done scoring for the night, and the Orioles (24-14) were back in the win column after losing two straight.

Machado went 0-for-4 and is 1-for-21 in his last five games, the lone hit a home run.

Here's more from the clubhouse:

Britton on whether he enjoys the five-out save: "Yeah, I like it to kind of be an option, definitely. Sometimes I like going back out there, sitting down. I don't get to do that very often. Good to sit down and get back out there, too. And be able to pick up Brad was the most important thing and then, obviously, getting the win.

"Had enough days off, threw a little bullpen before the game, so I felt pretty good. I knew with the way their lineup kind of shakes out with the lefties, that that was a possibility. I did it against them last year, so I was just prepared to do it."

Britton on whether it reminds him of his days as a starter: "Yeah, I think an inning and two-thirds was like my forte as a starter, so yeah, it was a lot like it."

Wieters on Tillman: "He threw the ball well. It's a good lineup out there and Tilly's real comfortable with the weapons he has right now to defend himself. He does what he does. He goes out there and competes and doesn't have everything together, but he has enough to keep a good-hitting team down."

Wieters on what's different with Tillman: "The one thing you can pinpoint is the slider command has come a long way. I think he probably started throwing it about three years ago and he's gotten a lot of reps with it, so he's feeling a lot more comfortable with his slider."

Wieters on his hitting: "I think more importantly, I'm seeing the ball good. Early in the year I was just going up there pre-swinging and pre-taking. Now, going up and being able to recognize pitches, I think that's always key. Any time you feel good at the plate, you're seeing the ball well."

Tillman on his outing: "I felt good physically. The pitches kind of came along as the game went on. I felt good with all my pitches. I was fortunate to execute my pitches when I needed to. I'm happy with it. I mixed some pitches throughout. That's a good lineup. They spoiled some good pitches. For the most part, we were on top of it."

Tillman on his season so far: "I try not to think about it when things are going well. I try to do the same thing day in and day out. I'm a team guy. I like to go about my business the same way. When it's not going so well, that's when it's a real struggle."

Tillman on six straight quality starts: "That's our goal every time we get out there. Quality starts are big. Most of the time when we get deep in the game, we give ourselves a chance to win. That's the most important part: Saving the bullpen. As a starting group, that's one of our big goals out there."

Tillman on being 7-0 with a 2.96 ERA in nine starts versus Seattle: "I've got nothing for you. We seem to swing the bats well every time I face these guys. We took some really good swings off a really good pitcher."