MARINERS 0 ORIOLES 1 F...A 1st Inning "Round Tripper" from O"s MARKAKIS separates O's Starter TILLMAN from M's Starter IWAKUMA for a Charm City Hardball 1-0 Shutout "W"..."GET AWAY DAY" O's trying to put a firm grip on the AL East #SEAvsBAL

The Baltimore Orioles leading the AL East by three games coming in to today's match up with the Seattle Mariners have no room for a let down in the standings. The M's playing to stay in the AL Wild Card Picture as both the A's and Halos are playing on a completely different level as we hit August Hardball.

It was O's RF Nick Markakis going 3 for 4 but more importantly taking Mariners Starters Japan's Hisashi Iwakuma deep for a 1st inning Lead-Off HR was the difference. Iwakuma went 7 2/3 innings allowing that Solo HR and four other hits as he struck out seven and walked two.

O's Starter Mark Tillman was extra-special going seven strong giving up four hits and striking out six as both O's Set-Up Man Andrew Miller and O's Captain Save-A-Game Zach Britton (Save #23) finished what Tillman had started...a shutout!

The O's move to 61-48 and that is 2.5 games up on the Blue Birds. The M's at 57-53 falls to 10.5 games back of the A's as they are right in the middle of the AL Wild Card Race.

360 Degrees...Three Teams could make the AL Playoffs and that is a real distinct possibility!