masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgZach Britton has completed eight innings, and the Mariners are stuck on three hits and no walks.

No runs, either.

Britton has struck out four, and he’s the first Orioles starter to finish eight innings since Jeremy Guthrie on opening day. Unfortunately, the Orioles haven’t scored for him tonight.

Britton has thrown 98 pitches, including 69 for strikes. He needed only eight pitches to complete the eighth, getting a fly ball, line drive and grounder up the middle that Brian Roberts…Zach Britton has completed eight innings, and the Mariners are stuck on three hits and no walks.

No runs, either.

Britton has struck out four, and he’s the first Orioles starter to finish eight innings since Jeremy Guthrie on opening day. Unfortunately, the Orioles haven’t scored for him tonight.

Britton has thrown 98 pitches, including 69 for strikes. He needed only eight pitches to complete the eighth, getting a fly ball, line drive and grounder up the middle that Brian Roberts backhanded before making the off-balance throw – the second time he’s made that play tonight.

Roberts is 1-for-4 and has hit into a double play, so the slump isn’t over. He just grounded out with pinch-runner Felix Pie on second base and one out in the bottom of the eighth.

Meanwhile, Kevin Gregg is warming in the bullpen, so Britton might be done. What an impressive performance.

If only he could be rewarded for it.

Instant update: Britton is back out for the ninth.

Meanwhile, brother Buck Britton drove in all five runs tonight for Single-A Frederick in it’s 5-4 win over Lynchburg.

Tonight’s attendance: 19,082

Update II: Britton retired the side in order in the ninth, leaving his pitch count at 108 (76 strikes). He left the mound to a well-deserved standing ovation. Britton blanked the Mariners on three hits, walked none, struck out five and faced only two batters over the minimum.

The last Orioles complete-game shutout came from Chris Waters on Sept. 16, 2008 in Anaheim.

Meanwhile, we have extra innings here. And Gregg is coming into the game.