FINAL: Orioles 10 - Rangers 4

By: Ben Raby
BALTIMORE- The Orioles (44-41) took advantage of an aching Vincente Padilla and scored eight times in the first three innings in a 10-4 win over the Rangers (44-43).

Padilla left the game after 2 2/3 innings, complaining of a neck strain and a bruised thumb. Padilla said after the game that the neck strain was bothering him during his last start, and that the bruised thumb happened on a Freddie Bynum liner in the third. Padilla does not know if he'll be good to make his next start. Rangers manager Ron Washington says he expects Padilla to heal before next Wednesday. X-rays on the thumb came back negative.

As for the Orioles, talk about a team effort. All nine Oriole starters reached base, with only Melvin Mora failing to get a hit. Mora was 0-2, reaching on a walk and a hit by pitch. He also scored twice.

The bottom third of the O's lineup, Kevin Millar, Adam Jones, and Brandon Fahey combined to go 6-11 with six runs, and five RBI.

Jones extended his hitting streak to eight games, while Nick Markekis was 2-5, extending his hitting streak to 12 games.

Freddie Bynum was a last minute replacement in the leadoff spot, filling in for Brian Roberts. Bynum went 1-5, but tied his career high with three RBI. After the game Manager Dave Trembley said that Roberts has the flu and should be back in the lineup as early as tomorrow.

And on the mound for the O's, another impressive start by Jeremy Guthrie, who went 6 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits and four earned runs. Guthrie also struck out six Rangers and walked a pair. Guthrie is now 5-7 on the season.

The Orioles and Rangers meet again tomorrow night from Camden Yards at 7:05, Brian Burress (6-5, 5.09 ERA) getting the start for Baltimore, Scott Feldman (2-3, 4.38) starting for the Rangers.