SEATTLE -- J.J. Putz had not pitched in a Mariners game for three weeks. How would he respond with the game on the line Tuesday against Baltimore?

Just like old times.

Putz, who allowed a leadoff double to Aubrey Huff in the ninth, overpowered the next three batters to save the Mariners' 4-2 victory over the Orioles. It was his first save since Opening Night. Two days later, he landed on the disabled list with an inflammation in his rib cage.

"Until you see him in action, you don't know what to expect," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "I've seen him throw bullpens. I've seen him throw simulated games. He threw strikes in his bullpens and his simulated games. He threw strikes tonight.

"It's really nice to have to big boy back. He makes a big difference."

McLaren said he had no intention of giving Putz a "soft landing" his first game back. No easing him in. He said the ninth inning "is his time.''

Putz, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in 2007 when he had 40 saves, wouldn't have it any other way.

"My job is to pitch in the ninth inning with the game on the line," he said. "I expect to be in there. I want the ball in those situations."

Putz has not allowed a run to the Orioles since May 23, 2006, a span of 8 2/3 innings. During that time he has given up two hits and struck out 12.

As Putz was addressing the media, reliever Mark Lowe, hiding in Putz's cubicle behind some hanging clothes, burst out to plaster Putz with a shaving-cream pie to the face. Putz has the clubhouse reputation of cream-pie attacks on the game's stars.

Designated hitter Jose Vidro earned his star in the eighth inning, delivering the game-winning hit. He drilled a bases-loaded, two-out single off Jeremy Guthrie (0-2) to break a 2-2 tie. The Mariners had been 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position before the game-winner.

Yuniesky Betancourt started the eighth with a double into the right-center gap. After two outs, Raul Ibanez was intentionally walked and Adrian Beltre walked to load the bases for Vidro.

Vidro, who was hitting just .208 and was not oblivious to rumors of the Mariners' possible interest in Frank Thomas, roped a single to right, scoring Betancourt and Ibanez. Vidro was not available after the game.

Both teams scored a run in the first. Felix Hernandez, who has had the flu all week, yielded a one-out RBI single to Kevin Millar, the hit driving in Brian Roberts from third. Ichiro Suzuki opened the bottom half with his second triple this season and Ibanez brought him home with a right-side groundout.

The Mariners got a gift run in the fifth when it appeared that Guthrie had averted trouble. Guthrie made a fine play on an Ichiro comebacker, racing to third for a force just ahead of a sliding Kenji Johjima.

However, on his next pitch, catcher Ramon Hernandez tried to pick off Ichiro at first and the ball bounced into right field. Betancourt, running through a stop sign from third-base coach Sam Perlozzo, scored from second base.

"When I take a couple steps [around third] I looked. I knew I had to do everything perfect," Betancourt said through an interpreter. "I knew I was going to make it home."

McLaren, who was unaware until after the game that Betancourt had run through the stop sign, joked, "I've been out there. I know what's that's like. As long we make it, that's all we care about. Luckily, it was a positive this time. We'll take it."

Huff hit a sixth-inning solo shot into the center-field bleachers. It was the first home run allowed by Mariners' pitching since April 15, a six-game span. That's the longest since a seven-game stretch June 5-12, 2004.

Hernandez, who threw 110 pitches through seven innings, was tired and wore down by his week of battling the flu. He was relieved by Arthur Rhodes (1-0) in the eighth. He earned the victory with a scoreless inning. It was his first win since May 23, 2005, when he was with Cleveland.

"I feel good right now. I have good command of all my pitches," said Rhodes, who missed all of last season with elbow tendon transfer surgery. "My elbow feels great. I just have to keep doing my exercises."

Right fielder Brad Wilkerson left the game after the third inning with tightness in his right hamstring. He is day-to-day.

The Mariners had a moment of silence before the game to honor former catcher John Marzano, who died Sunday.