SEATTLE — Newcomer Andrew Albers provided just what the Mariners needed Tuesday night and for just long enough to snap a five-game losing streak.

Albers worked five solid innings before the bullpen covered the final 12 outs in a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field and, that quickly, the possibly of a wild-card berth beckons once more.

“That is the pitching plan we’ve been trying to do,” manager Scott Servais said. “It starts with a guy who gets up there on a hill in the first inning, and he’s got to give you a chance. He did tonight.”

Albers weathered a shaky start in which he gave up hits to five of the first eight Orioles. He limited the damage to one run in part because center fielder Jarrod Dyson completed a double play in the third inning by throwing out Manny Machado at the plate.

“What a throw!” Albers said. “That was kind of a game-changer at that point. I was jogging to go back up (the plate), and thinking, ‘Ah, shoot. I just gave up another one.’

“And then, all of a sudden, you see that throw, and it’s ‘Oh, my gosh. Wow!’”

The Mariners tied the game in the fourth on Nelson Cruz’s RBI single before knocking out ex-teammate Wade Miley in a two-run fifth inning. A bullpen relay of Emilio Pagan, Marc Rzepczynski, Nick Vincent and Edwin Diaz took it from there.

“I think the story tonight was the bullpen,” said Albers, whom the Mariners acquired Aug. 11 from Atlanta in a cash transaction. “They came in and were unbelievable. They shut down 12 in a row.

“Luckily, I was able to put us in position to have a chance to win, and they absolutely shut the door.”

The victory boosted the Mariners to 60-61 and to within 1 1/2 games of the Los Angeles Angels in the race for the American League’s final wild-card berth.

“Nice ballgame,” Servais said. “We need to get back to winning series, and we have an opportunity to do that now and, hopefully, end on a good note (Wednesday).”