SEATTLE - Forgetting helped Nick Markakis. Too much thinking doomed the Mariners.

Markakis struck out twice looking early but tied the game with a ground out and then hit a tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning to make Daniel Cabrera a winner in the Baltimore Orioles' 3-2 victory over Seattle on Wednesday night.

AP

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Luis Hernandez, left, reaches for the ball as Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki steals second in the first inning.

Markakis hit the first pitch he saw from left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith (0-1), a high fastball, five rows into the bleachers beyond right field. Mariners manager John McLaren had summoned Rowland-Smith to relieve Sean Green, who had allowed only a walk in 1 1-3 innings, because left-handers were 3-for-17 against him.

Make that 4-for-18.

Cabrera (2-0) allowed five hits and two runs in eight inning while using a slow curve the Mariners continually chased in vain. Cabrera struck out five and retired his final 11 batters. The man who led the AL with 108 walks last season walked none.

George Sherrill, acquired from Seattle in February with four others in the trade that brought ace Erik Bedard to Seattle, allowed a leadoff single in the ninth to Raul Ibanez. But then Adrian Beltre flied out, Jose Vidro struck out and Richie Sexson fouled out for Sherrill's seventh save in seven chances.

The Mariners lost more than the game. Carlos Silva, their most effective starter so far this season, left in the seventh inning with tightness in his right thigh. Seattle is already missing Bedard, who has been on the disabled list with hip inflammation since April 9 but is on track to return Saturday.

Markakis almost dropped his bat and grabbed his batting helmet in disbelief after plate umpire Brian Runge called him out for the second time, in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Silva was sailing with a 2-0 lead behind a sacrifice fly in the first by Ibanez and a fielder's choice RBI in the fourth from Vidro. Silva had allowed just four hits before Brian Roberts led off the sixth with a single and Melvin Mora tripled. Markakis then tied the game with an RBI groundout.

Silva walked Aubrey Huff to begin the seventh, his second walk of the game. After a called strike to Adam Jones, a trainer came to the mound and chatted with the burly right-hander for a moment. Manager John McLaren then came out, talked to his new No. 3 starter briefly and signaled to the bullpen for Green.

That ended Silva's quest to become the first starter to begin his Seattle career 4-0 since Jeff Fassero in 1997. The Mariners signed the former Twins starter in free agency last winter for $48 million. He's 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA in five starts through Wednesday's sudden departure.

Silva allowed six hits and two runs, struck out four and walked two in six-plus innings. It was the first time this season he hadn't lasted at least seven innings.