Baltimore 6, Los Angeles 3

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- It didn't take long for Daniel Cabrera to reap the benefits of working with pitching coach Leo Mazzone.

Cabrera threw two perfect innings Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out two and not allowing a ball out of the infield in helping the Baltimore Orioles earn their first spring training win, 6-3.

Cabrera went 10-13 with a 4.52 ERA last year, but he expects to be much better this season because of the tutelage he's received from Mazzone, who joined the Orioles this winter after a successful run with the Atlanta Braves.

"Everybody knows Leo likes to throw outside, and that's what I was trying to throw, the fastball outside," Cabrera said. "I worked on everything: my breaking ball and my fastball location."

In the first inning, Cabrera retired Willy Aybar, Delwyn Young and Nomar Garciaparra on grounders to short. In the second, he struck out Joel Guzman and Matt Kemp before Dioner Navarro bounced out to second.

"I'm very happy with those two innings," he said. "That was the first game. You look like that, you can open a lot of eyes."

Mazzone believes the 24-year-old Cabrera, who's entering this third season, has the potential to be one of the game's premier pitchers.

"In the short time I've worked with him, he shows me that he can be a top-flight guy," Mazzone said. "At some point in time, he can be a No. 1 starter."

After the game, Cabrera left for the World Baseball Classic to play for the Dominican Republic.

"I want to stay here with Leo, but it's my country and it's the first time I have the chance to go do this," Cabrera said. "I'm like 50-50, but I need to go represent my country. They need me."

The Orioles batted around in the first inning against D.J. Houlton to take a 3-0 lead. After a walk and two singles loaded the bases, Jay Gibbons singled in two runs and Jeff Conine hit a sacrifice fly.

Baltimore scored two runs in the second on a throwing error by shortstop Tony Abreu, whose low throw to first skipped past converted shortstop Garciaparra.

Garciaparra didn't make an error Saturday, but acknowledged that he still needs time at first base before he can become comfortable there.

"It's definitely a work in progress. I'm working on it every day," he said. "I still can play short, I played third last year and now I'm working at first. I love just playing the game."

Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora left with a bruised left forearm after being struck by a pitch from Eric Hull in the second inning. Mora had a wrap on his arm as he left the ballpark, but the injury was not believed to be serious.

"It's swollen, but I don't worry about that," he said. "It looks ugly but tomorrow I'll be fine."