Orioles 3, Rangers 1
Wei-Yin Chen tossed 6 1/3 solid innings to defeat Texas for the second time in nine days and Matt Wieters belted a solo homer as visiting Baltimore continued its winning ways following the All-Star break.
Nick Markakis made a leaping catch to deny a home run in the fourth inning before ripping an RBI double in the fifth. Nate McLouth added a run-scoring double as the Orioles (54-43) posted their fifth victory in six contests to improve to a season high-tying 11 games over .500.
Jeff Baker took advantage of a defensive gaffe before scoring on Craig Gentry's sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. The Rangers failed to muster anything else offensively en route to their fifth loss in six games.
After a stellar seven-inning effort in a 6-1 triumph over Texas on July 10, Chen (5-3) kept the Rangers at bay on Friday to win his third consecutive start. The Taiwan native allowed one run on eight hits and Darren O'Day bridged the gap to Jim Johnson, who stranded a pair of runners in the ninth to secure his majors-best 34th save.
Wieters opened the scoring in the second inning after depositing a 2-2 slider from Derek Holland (8-5) over the wall in left for his 13th homer. McLouth doubled the advantage in the third before Markakis' run-scoring double extended Baltimore's lead to 3-1.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Markakis denied Texas 3B Adrian Beltre of a home run in the fourth inning by making a leaping catch at the wall. ... Major-league leader Chris Davis failed to homer for the first time in five games. Davis, who fanned three times en route to an 0-for-4 performance, is 1-for-17 with 11 strikeouts against his former team this season. ... Baker alertly advanced to third on a walk after the Orioles failed to cover the base in the fourth inning.