FINAL: Rangers 5 - Orioles 3

By: Ben Raby
BALTIMORE- If Rangers Manager Ron Washington had it his way the best hitter on his team would be starting this year's all-star game. Ian Kinsler showed again tonight why he may be the American League's best second baseman in the Rangers (45-43) 5-3 win over the Orioles (44-42) at Camden Yards.

"I don't think there's any second baseman having as good a first half as Kins[ler]," Washington said. "It's not just hitting home runs, but it's driving in runs, scoring runs, stealing bags. He's been doing everything."

And tonight 'everything' meant a 2-3 night at the plate highlighted by a 2-run homer in the top of the sixth that proved to be the game winner. The 355-foot shot off Oriole reliever Lance Cormier gave Texas a 4-3 lead they would not give back.

"He fell behind 3-0," Kinsler said of Cormier, "and that allowed me to swing more aggresively. I was trying to hit the ball out of the park, or at least do some damage either get myself to second, score one and tie it up, or hit it out of the park."

Kinsler also doubled on the first pitch of the game, extending his hitting streak to 17 games. He then came around to score in that first inning as the Rangers took an early 1-0 lead on Orioles starter Brian Burres. Kinsler is now hitting .328 on the season, best in the AL. Hard to believe that the AL's best hitter (Kinsler) and the AL's RBI leader and number-two home run man (Josh Hamilton) a) play for the same third place team and b) make less than a combined $1.1 million.

Hamilton is expected to be named a starter to the AL all-star team when results from fan voting are released tomorrow night, but Kinsley could only get in as a reserve. Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is expected to win the fan balloting for his position.

"If I had a vote," said Rangers starting pitcher Scott Feldman, "he'd obviously be my [all-star starter]. But the fans come into play and Boston has a lot of fans, but [Kinsler] deserves that starting spot."

Thanks to Kinsley's 14th home run of the season, Feldman improved to 3-3 on the season. Cormier drops to 1-3 for the Orioles. C.J. Wilson pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 20th save of the season.

Offensively for the Orioles, Nick Markekis extended his hitting streak to 13 games, while Aubrey Huff had a miserable night going 0-4 with four groundouts.

Baltimore drops to 3-3 on its current seven game homestand. The O's and Rangers close out their weekend series tomorrow at Camden Yards, with Radhames Liz (3-0, 5.46 ERA) for Baltimore, and Kevin Millwood (5-4, 4.90 ERA) for Texas, the expected starters in that one. First pitch is at 1:35.