ORIOLES 7, MARLINS 3
at Jupiter, Fla.
Sunday, March 9

Orioles at the plate: Baltimore scored three in the fourth inning with the production stemming from the top of the order. Chris Roberson, Luis Hernandez and Aubrey Huff collected back-to-back-to-back base hits off Florida starter Ricky Nolasco. Jay Gibbons and Jay Payton each added singles to keep the scoring going. Roberson added a RBI double which scored Eider Torres with the go-ahead run in the fourth. Oscar Salazar hit a RBI grounder to tack on an insurance run in the seventh.

Marlins at the plate: Florida took a 3-0 lead in the third inning on Jeremy Hermida's three-run home run -- his first of the spring -- to right field. Cameron Maybin, who reached base by narrowly legging out an infield hit, and Dan Uggla, who walked with two outs, both scored on the play. Cody Ross, who started in left field, was 2-for-2 in his first two at-bats, and was robbed of a third hit on a diving play by Payton in the sixth.

Orioles on the mound: Starter Adam Loewen was tagged for three runs in the third inning, which he couldn't escape. He left after 2 2/3 innings, having allowed four hits and three earned runs. He walked three, struck out two and threw 55 pitches -- 32 for strikes. He induced a 4-6-3 double play to get out of a jam in the second inning. Five relievers combined to hold the Marlins scoreless after Loewen left.

Marlins on the mound: Nolasco pitched three perfect innings, but faltered in the fourth. The right-hander exited after 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks. He struck out four and threw 56 pitches -- 38 for strikes.

Grapefruit League records: Marlins 9-5-1; Orioles 6-4-1.

Up next: The Marlins host Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. ET on Monday at Roger Dean Stadium. Florida right-hander Rick VandenHurk, who has allowed one run and three walks in five innings this spring in his bid for a spot in the starting rotation, will oppose Minnesota right-hander Kevin Slowey.

The Orioles will host the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1:05 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Right-hander Steve Trachsel will start for the Orioles, followed by lefty George Sherrill and righty Chad Bradford. The Dodgers will counter with right-hander Chan Ho Park.