Rangers 8, Orioles 5
Ian Kinsler smacked a three-run double and matched a career high with four RBIs as visiting Texas defeated Baltimore in the opener of a four-game series.
Kinsler’s bases-clearing hit off Scott Feldman (7-7) capped a six-run sixth inning as the Rangers remained a half-game behind the first-place Oakland Athletics in the American League West. A.J. Pierzynski, Elvis Andrus and Engel Beltre also had run-scoring hits in the uprising that gave Texas an 8-3 advantage.
Derek Holland (7-4) gave up five runs (three earned) and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings. Three relievers protected the lead with Joe Nathan striking out two in the ninth for his 30th save in 31 opportunities.
Kinsler had a run-scoring single in the third inning and Mitch Moreland also delivered one in the fourth. Baltimore struck for three runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 3-2 lead on one of Manny Machado’s three singles.
The Orioles pulled within 8-5 in the seventh on a two-run homer by Matt Wieters. All-Star Chris Davis and Wieters each struck out four times.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Feldman allowed seven runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings against his former teammates. He blanked Texas on two hits over seven innings earlier this season when he was on the Chicago Cubs. … Davis, who leads the majors with 33 homers, will represent the American League in the Home Run Derby on Monday prior to the July 16 All-Star Game. … Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre went 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and was named AL Player of the Week on Monday.