GAME BLOG: ORIOLES VS. RANGERS

Mid 5th: Orioles 3 - Rangers 2
By: Ben Raby
BALTIMORE- Both starting pitchers seem to have calmed down after shaky starts. Rangers starter Scott Feldman has faced the minimum six batters over the past two innings, while Baltimore's Brian Burres just recorded his first 1-2-3 inning.

Burres though can thank third baseman Melvin Mora who made a pair of spectacular catches on sharply hit liners down the third base line by Milton Bradley and Brandon Boggs.

Orioles continue to lead 3-2 as we head to the bottom of the fifth.

Mid 3rd: Action in O's 'Pen
Brian Burres just threw his first scoreless inning of the game as the Orioles continue to lead the Rangers 3-2. But Texas continues to make solid contact off Burres, and that's promted Dave Trembley to call the bullpen. Lance Cormier is now warming up.

Burres has gone three innings so far, throwing 53 pitches, giving up two runs, seven hits and walking one. The Rangers have left six men on base.

Mid 2nd: Orioles 3 - Rangers 2
Josh Hamilton drove in his Major League leading 83rd run of the season on his second hit of the game, to cut the Orioles lead to one.

German Duran came around to score after he doubled in his first plate appearance of the night.

Hamilton was stranded at first, while Michael Young was left at second. The Rangers have now left five men on base through two innings, just one less than the maximum.

End 1st: Orioles 3 - Rangers 1
For the second straight night the Orioles have erased a first inning deficit, this time taking a 3-1 lead.

Like the Rangers, the O's got to work early. Brian Roberts singled on the first pitch of the inning and Jay Payton singled just two pitches later. Both were driven in on the very next pitch, a hard hit double into right center by Nick Markekis. Markekis has now hit safely in 13 straight games.

Markekis advanced to third on an Aubrey Huff groundout, and eventually scored on an Adam Jones sac fly.

Mid 1st: Rangers 1 - Orioles 0
Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler wasted little time extending his hitting streak to 17 games. Kinsler doubled to right center on the second pitch of the game. One pitch later Kinsler came around to score on Michael Young's RBI single, giving the Rangers an early 1-0 lead.

If this keeps up though it could be a long night for Orioles starter Brian Burres. He threw 24 first inning pitches giving up the one run and three hits, while walking one. Even two of the outs were well hit balls into the outfield. Baltimore escaped though what could have been a much worse inning as the Rangers left the bases loaded.

The Orioles are wearing their traditional home whites, with orange numbering and black outline. The Rangers are sporting their alternate blue jerseys with white numbering and red outline. Both teams are once again wearing navy blue caps (as are all 30 MLB teams this Fourth of July weekend) in recognition of American Veterans.

Gametime temperature: 83 degrees.