Lind homers to propel Mariners over Orioles 7-2

BALTIMORE (AP) The Seattle Mariners' successful traveling show put on a masterful performance at a tough venue for visitors.

Adam Lind broke open a close game with a three-run homer in the sixth inning, and the Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-2 Thursday to complete another winning road series.

Leonys Martin also homered for the Mariners, who took two of three from Baltimore to improve to an AL-best 15-7 in away games. Seattle is 6-0-1 in seven road series.

''We like hanging out together,'' manager Scott Servais said with a chuckle. ''We play well on the road. We have a lot of confidence.

''Starting pitchers have kept us in games and we've had a lot of big hits on the road. That's the key. You've got to hit on the road to win - and we have.''

Nathan Karns (4-1) allowed one run and four hits in five innings, striking out five and walking none. The right-hander is unbeaten in seven starts since April 9.

Pedro Alvarez and Adam Jones had RBIs for the Orioles, who have dropped three of four following a seven-game winning streak. Baltimore was 6-0-1 in home series this season.

''Yeah, they're doing really well,'' Orioles designated hitter Mark Trumbo said of the AL West-leading Mariners. ''They're really hot, obviously. Their record shows that and they did all the little things that added up to a nice win for them.''

Whether it continues, who really knows?

''Everybody's trying to seek their level right now,'' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. ''We're in the middle of May. Everybody's trying to figure out who they are, whether they're a dancer or someone who spins the records.''

With a 24-15 record, the Orioles thus far have been in dancing mode. Showalter expects it to remain that way, in spite of this series.

''I have a lot of confidence in our guys,'' he said. ''They know what it's about, they know what's at stake.''

The Mariners were nursing a 2-1 lead when Robinson Cano led off the sixth with a double off Tyler Wilson (2-2). After Kyle Seager received an intentional walk, Lind hit an opposite-field drive that barely cleared the left-field wall.

''He was the story of the game,'' Servais said. ''We needed a big knock. He hit it in a good spot in the ballpark.''

Said Lind: ''I put a pretty good swing on it. And I hit it good enough to go over the wall.''

That was enough to provide Seattle with its first series win in Baltimore since Aug. 2-4, 2013. The Mariners are 4-0 this season in the deciding matchup of a three-game set.

The Orioles loaded the bases with one out in the eighth. Jones drove in a run with groundout before Chris Davis hit a fly ball to center.

''We had a shot there with the bases loaded and some good people up,'' Showalter said. ''We just couldn't get back in it.''

Martin connected with a man on against Dylan Bundy in the ninth.

The Mariners got a first-inning run on a two-out RBI single by Nelson Cruz, who has reached base in 24 consecutive games at Camden Yards.

Alvarez tied it for Baltimore in the third, lining a pitch off the right-field scoreboard for a run-scoring double.

Seattle went up 2-1 in the fifth when Ketel Marte drew a leadoff walk and came home on a two-out single by Seth Smith.

POSITION CHANGE

Mariners: The Mariners travel to Cincinnati for a three-game set this weekend, so Cruz will play RF since there's no DH. ''We need his bat obviously. He's a big part of our lineup,'' Servais said. Seattle is 6-8 when Cruz plays RF and 17-8 when he's the DH.

Orioles: Ryan Flaherty got his first start of the season in RF on Thursday.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: Shortstop J.J. Hardy, out 4 to 6 weeks with a fractured left foot, will travel to Sarasota, Florida, on Friday to begin weight bearing exercises, Showalter said. ... RHP Yovani Gallardo (shoulder tendinitis) had a throwing session from 120 feet on Thursday. He will throw off a mound Sunday.

UP NEXT

Mariners: Hisashi Iwakuma (1-4, 4.38 ERA) makes his ninth start of the season in matchup with Cincinnati on Friday night.

Orioles: Baltimore begins a nine-game road trip Friday night, sending Mike Wright (2-3, 5.20) against the Los Angeles Angels.