Moyer improves to 9-0 at home as M's top O's

SEATTLE (AP) -- Jamie Moyer is a much better pitcher at Safeco Field than on the road.

Moyer pitched effectively into the eighth inning and Richie Sexson drove in two runs to surpass 100 RBI, leading the Mariners over the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Friday night. Left fielder Jamal Strong threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the eighth, helping Seattle hold on.

Making his team-leading 28th start of the season, Moyer (12-6) improved to 9-0 this year and 50-26 in his career at Safeco. The 42-year-old left-hander was scheduled to pitch Wednesday in Oakland, but the Mariners delayed his start so he could pitch at home instead.

Moyer has a 2.62 ERA in 15 starts in Seattle this season, but he's 3-6 with a 6.37 ERA in 13 starts on the road.

"I think it's all a coincidence," Moyer said. "I've pitched some poor games here and got a no-decision. But just give me the ball. I don't care where I pitch."

Jay Gibbons led off the ninth against George Sherrill with his 22nd homer, but J.J. Putz got three outs for his first save this season.

Seattle manager Mike Hargrove elected not to use closer Eddie Guardado, who took the loss in an 8-7 defeat in Oakland on Wednesday when the Mariners' bullpen allowed five runs in the ninth.

Guardado has appeared in 50 games this season and has 31 saves in 34 opportunities. He's pitching with a torn rotator cuff.

"We've really pitched Eddie a lot the last couple of weeks," Hargrove said. "We felt like this way was the best way to go."

Moyer is 16-3 against the Orioles, who beat him 3-1 on May 25 in Baltimore. He allowed one run and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings this time with one walk and three strikeouts.

"I think I pitched OK," said Moyer, who has a 204-150 career record, including 138-74 with the Mariners. "On these low-scoring games, you've got to take advantage of what you can get."

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the first. Ichiro Suzuki drew a leadoff walk from Erik Bedard (6-7) and scored from first on a two-out double by Sexson -- his 100th RBI.

In the fifth, Sexson walked on a 3-2 pitch from Bedard with bases loaded to force in Suzuki and make the score 2-0. Sexson fell behind 0-2 in the count before fighting back.

The Orioles finally broke through with a run in the eighth off Moyer. Eric Byrnes ended an 0-for-18 slump with a leadoff single, and Brian Roberts' double scored Byrnes from first.

Julio Mateo came in to face Melvin Mora, who grounded out for the second out. Miguel Tejada then singled to left and Roberts tried to score from second, but he was cut down by Strong on a close play at the plate.

Strong couldn't tell from the outfield if Roberts was out, but he was happy to make a contribution in his 15th game with the Mariners this season. It was his first start in left field in 2005.

"I was just hoping (third baseman Adrian) Beltre didn't cut my throw off," Strong said.

Roberts thought he was safe.

"I felt him tag me on my right shoulder, but I thought that my hand was on the plate," Roberts said.

Orioles interim manager Sam Perlozzo argued with umpire Adam Dowdy and was ejected. He said Dowdy threw him out because he knocked Dowdy's mask out of his hand.

"I was pointing to the ground and I knocked his mask out," Perlozzo said. "That was unintentional and he knows it."

The Mariners made it 3-1 in the eighth when Raul Ibanez doubled off Steve Kline, stole third and scored on a wild pitch by Jorge Julio.

Moyer gave up his first hits in the fourth, when the Orioles singled three times, but he escaped without a run because of Baltimore's baserunning mistake. On an apparent double steal, Roberts broke late from second and was easily thrown out.

Moyer also was aided by an outstanding catch from center fielder Jeremy Reed on Javy Lopez's drive to the warning track to start the seventh. Reed leaped and crashed into the fence, falling to the ground.

Perlozzo took Bedard out after five innings. He allowed two runs, five hits and four walks.

Game notes
Sexson has 100 RBI or more for the fifth time in his career, the previous time with Milwaukee in 2003 when he had 124. He had a career-high 125 RBI with the Brewers in 2001. ... Moyer's 16-3 mark (.842) against Baltimore is the second-best winning percentage against the Orioles. The best is Tim Hudson's 9-1 (.900) record. ... Roberts has 40 doubles, second to Tejada in the AL in that category.