Orioles 7, Rangers 4
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Adam Jones had two hits, including his 20th home run of the season that started the Baltimore Orioles' decisive four-run third inning in a 7-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.
Miguel Gonzalez (8-3) had his ninth consecutive quality start, working 6 2/3 innings and giving up one run and eight hits with three strikeouts. He issued no walks.
Jim Johnson picked up his 35th save, getting the final three outs in the ninth, an inning after Texas mounted a comeback with three runs in the eighth.
The Rangers had the tying run at the plate with two outs in the ninth, but A.J. Pierznski grounded out to second base.
Seven Orioles had more than one hit in a 17-hit attack, including Brian Roberts, who had a two-run single in the third.
Nate McLouth, Manny Machado, Chris Davis Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy all had multi-hit games for Baltimore, which won for the sixth time in the last seven games.
The Orioles picked up ground in the American League East, moving within 3 1/2 games of the front-running Boston Red Sox.
Ross Wolf (1-3) took the loss for the Rangers, who lost for the sixth time in the last seven games.
Ian Kinsler had a sacrifice fly for the Rangers, who collected 12 hits but left eight runners on base a night after leaving 10 stranded. The Orioles, meanwhile, converted seven of 13 runners in scoring position.
The Orioles built a 7-0 lead in the first three innings.
McLouth led off the game with a single and a stolen base before scoring on a single by Jones. Davis scored Nick Markakis with a single as well.
McLouth ended up with a triple in the second when Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz misplayed the ball. McLouth scored on the first of Machado's two hits.
The Orioles added four runs in the third. Jones hit a 421-foot home run to center field. Henry Urrutia, making his major-league debut, singled in a run with the bases loaded and Brian Roberts added a two-run single.
Wolf was pulled in the third and left with the bases loaded. Wolf gave up nine hits, seven runs and recorded just six outs.
NOTES: The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes by rain. ... In a pregame ceremony, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez was inducted into the Rangers' Hall of Fame. Rodriguez played in more than 1,500 games for Texas, amassing 1,747 hits as a .304 hitter in 13 seasons, including 217 home runs and 352 doubles. ... The Orioles began the night third in the AL East, 4 1/2 games behind Boston. The Rangers entered two games back of Oakland in the AL West. ... Cruz returned to the lineup after missing Friday's game with a migraine headache, a first-time affliction that he said cleared up around midday Saturday.
