DuBose tames Mariners

BALTIMORE — Eric DuBose quickly is establishing himself as the Baltimore Orioles’ most consistent pitcher.

The left- hander delivered his third straight impressive performance in the Orioles’ 9-5 win before a crowd of 24,792 yesterday at Camden Yards. DuBose rarely was hit hard in his seven innings of work and allowed three hits and two runs.

“I was just mixing it up,” said DuBose, a 28-year old Texan who has won three straight after losing his first two starts. “I am starting to feel a little more consistent about what I am going to have day in and day out when I take the hill. It’s a feeling where you know what pitches you have, you just have to figure out what’s working this day and find a way to get them out.”

DuBose has the Orioles’ only two quality starts in the team’s last eight games. He relaxed as Baltimore pounded the Mariners for 15 hits — 13 singles and two doubles. Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora each had four hits, while Luis Matos added three.

The Orioles (12-8), who have won two straight after dropping three in a row, are off to their best 20-game start since 2000 and prolonged the Mariners’ miseries. Seattle (7-15) has the American League’s worst record after losing seven of its last eight.

“When you lose three in a row at home, it can be demoralizing,” said Roberts, whose batting average jumped to .311. “These are big wins for us.”

Shortstop Miguel Tejada was hit below the left eye while trying to make a play in the eighth. First baseman Rafael Palmeiro fielded Ichiro Suzuki’s ground ball and tried to get the lead runner. But his throw bounced off baserunner Randy Winn’s batting helmet and ricocheted to Tejada’s left eye.

X-rays were negative, and Tejada expects to play tonight in Cleveland.

“I was scared,” Tejada said. “I stayed down about a minute, and then knew I was OK. … I will be OK.”

Baltimore broke through in the third, scoring four runs off starter Joel Pineiro (1-3) and taking advantage of Seattle’s defensive gaffes. With two runners in scoring position, Tejada’s bouncer to second handcuffed Bret Boone to bring home a run.

Palmeiro followed with a laser off the scoreboard in right to score another run. Javy Lopez reached on a groundball through third baseman Scott Spiezio’s legs for an RBI on the error. An out later B.J. Surhoff made it 4-0 on a sacrifice fly to center field.

Seattle finally scored off DuBose in the fifth, getting two runs on one hit. Spiezio led off with a walk before Raul Ibanez hit a soft liner down the left-field line to put runners on second and third. Jolbert Cabrera and Ben Davis then followed with RBI groundouts to cut the Orioles’ lead to 4-2.

DuBose responded with a perfect sixth and worked through the seventh to give the bullpen a much-needed light day.

“He is more relaxed,” Baltimore manager Lee Mazzilli said. “In his first two starts, he might have been trying to do more than he should be doing. I really think he is staying within his game and maximizing his stuff. … He has a lot confidence. He always had a good change and curveball. I see him throwing it a lot more for strikes.”

The Orioles ended any Mariners’ comeback hopes with a five-run seventh.

Notes — The Orioles are expected to place David Segui (sore knees) on the disabled list retroactive to April 24. He will be available to return May 9. … Mora has hit .538 (14-for-26) in his last seven games. … Baltimore went 5-4 on the homestand.