Rangers score six in seventh inning, beat Orioles 8-4
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers took advantage of their own late-inning surge this time around.
Mitch Moreland's go-ahead double off the right-field fence and Rougned Odor's two-run single highlighted a six-run seventh inning, leading the Rangers to an 8-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night.
That came a night after Baltimore, which leads the majors in home runs and tops the American League in batting, used a nine-run seventh to win 11-5.
"We kind of turned the tables on them," Moreland said.
Delino DeShields and Nomar Mazara each had three hits for the Rangers.
Mazara, promoted from Class AAA Round Rock last week, has two three-hit games in seven starts. He had an RBI single in the big seventh by beating out a grounder in the hole between first and second. First baseman Chris Davis fielded the ball, but couldn't beat Mazara to the bag.
Moreland and DeShields each had two doubles, accounting for all of Texas' extra-base hits while the Orioles got solo home runs from Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Davis to increase their team total to 23. The Rangers have hit eight.
"Just try and square it up and use the gaps," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "With the speed we have throughout the lineup, it's important to get on base and let those guys do what they do."
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Keone Kela (1-0), who turned 23 on Saturday, worked a scoreless seventh in relief, striking out two and walking one.
A.J. McFarland (0-1) took the loss after retiring only one of the four batters he faced in relief of starter Yovani Gallardo.
Gallardo took a 4-2 lead into the seventh and was pulled after allowing the first two batters to reach. It was the first time that he pitched at least six innings in 10 starts — since Aug. 22, 2015, when he was with Texas.
Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said Gallardo looked strong through six innings and didn't hesitate sending him out for the seventh.
"We just didn't pitch the last nine outs as well as they did," Showalter said.
Orioles right fielder Mark Trumbo overran Odor's two-run single, allowing Odor to reach third and score the final run on a single by Elvis Andrus.
Rangers starter Colby Lewis pitched six innings and had season highs with four runs, three homers, 10 hits and seven strikeouts. Texas' leader with 17 wins last season, Lewis has given up five homers in his three starts.
"To kind of keep them at bay for six innings and keep us close - that's all wanted to do," he said.
Adrian Beltre, who signed a two-year contract extension for $36 million through 2018 early Saturday, had two RBI.
A DAY TO REGROUP
Banister said he plans to return LF Ian Desmond to the lineup Sunday. The slumping Desmond, 1 for 21, was given Saturday off. "Ian's in a good place mentally," Banister said. "I still believe in the man, the athlete, the player."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Kevin Gausman (shoulder) will have a work day on Sunday that will determine the next step in his rehab. LHP Brian Matusz (back strain) might rejoin the team next weekend.
Rangers: LF Josh Hamilton (knee) will begin a rehab stint next weekend in Arizona with the goal of getting him about 35 at-bats before his scheduled return in mid-May.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Mike Wright (1-0) allowed four earned runs in five innings at Boston in his only previous start. The Orioles scored three runs after he left to give him the win.
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland (1-0) blanked the Mariners over 6 2/3 innings on Tuesday to get the win, giving up only four singles.
