Marlins Walk By Orosco, O's

The Florida Marlins took advantage of a break in the weather and Jesse Orosco's wildness to extend their winning streak to six games.

Orosco walked Luis Castillo on a 3-2 pitch with two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday, giving Florida a 2-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Marlins trailed 1-0 when the game was delayed by rain for two hours, one minute in the sixth inning. Orioles manager Ray Miller was frustrated that the game resumed after such a long delay, forcing him to remove pitcher Mike Mussina.

While Baltimore continued to sink in the AL East, the Marlins' streak made them the hottest team in the major leagues. They pulled the game out in the ninth without hitting a ball out of the infield.

Bruce Aven reached on an infield single to start the inning against Mike Timlin (2-5), then took second on a sacrifice by Mark Kotsay. Orosco walked Tim Hyers, and Dave Berg was hit by a pitch with two out to load the bases.

Castillo fell behind in the count 1-2, barely checked his swing on a 2-2 slider, then dodged Orosco's 90-mph fastball for ball four.

"I won the contest," Castillo said. "He threw the ball inside."

Brian Edmondson (3-3) pitched a scoreless ninth.

Baltimore's B.J. Surhoff hit his 11th homer to lead off the fourth inning. Alex Gonzalez tied the score in the eighth with a sacrifice fly.

Only about 250 fans were on hand in the early innings because of dismal weather. Steady showers fell, and there was a delay of 28 minutes in the first inning and the long delay in the sixth.

The crowd grew to about 2,000 by the end of Game 1.

"Thankfully we were able to complete it and get the W," Marlins manager John Boles said. The game was his first after missing 11 games with neck and back ailments.

Florida rookie Ryan Dempster allowed no hits until Surhoff homered. Dempster, who gave up three hits anone run in 5 1-3 innings, has a 1.61 ERA over his past four starts.

"He really seems to be settling in," Boles said. "And the bullpen did a great job."

Mussina allowed two hits and no runs in five innings.

Jeff Conine, playing in Miami for the first time since being traded by the Marlins 18 months ago, popped up as a pinch hitter in the eighth.

Notes: