masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Pirates must wonder why they didn’t get this Nate McLouth in the first two months of the season.

McLouth hit a leadoff home run tonight and added a single and walk, as the Orioles stormed to a 9-1 lead over the Mariners in the fourth inning.

McLouth hit .140/.210/.175 in 34 games with the Pirates. He began tonight hitting .262/.335/.411 in 39 games for the Orioles, and he’s got four home runs since they selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Not a bad replacement for Nick…The Pirates must wonder why they didn’t get this Nate McLouth in the first two months of the season.

McLouth hit a leadoff home run tonight and added a single and walk, as the Orioles stormed to a 9-1 lead over the Mariners in the fourth inning.

McLouth hit .140/.210/.175 in 34 games with the Pirates. He began tonight hitting .262/.335/.411 in 39 games for the Orioles, and he’s got four home runs since they selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Not a bad replacement for Nick Markakis in the leadoff spot.

It’s easier to understand how McLouth was an All-Star with the Pirates in 2008. Who knew that he took a time machine from Norfolk to Baltimore?

Matt Wieters hit his third home run in two games, tying his career high of 22 set last season. He’s driven in three runs tonight.

Adam Jones is 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored. Mark Reynolds has two hits and two RBIs. J.J. Hardy and Manny Machado also have driven in runs.

Everybody into the pool.

Update: McLouth singled again in the fifth inning. He’s running with scissors.

Mariners starter Hector Noesi retired four batters and gave up seven runs. I’m not an expert, but that’s a bad ratio.

Update II: Endy Chavez added an RBI single in the sixth, clearly because he felt left out.

Chavez has five hits in the last two games.

Chris Davis is the only Oriole who hasn’t reached base.

So, how’s that run differential looking?

Update III: Chris Tillman allowed one run and three hits in six innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. His only mistake resulted in a home run by Michael Saunders.

Tillman retired 12 in a row at one point. I guess the elbow is fine.

Tillman has permitted three earned runs in 27 2/3 career innings against the Mariners. He’ll improve to 4-0 against them unless the bullpen falls apart.

Update IV: Luis Ayala allowed a two-run homer in the ninth and forced Buck Showalter to dip into the bullpen, but Tommy Hunter recorded the final out, stranding the bases loaded to cap a 10-4 win, the Orioles’ second in a row.