Rangers 8, Orioles 5
BALTIMORE -- Ian Kinsler had four RBIs, three of them on a double during Texas' six-run sixth inning, and the Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-5 Monday to begin a four-game series.
Texas trailed 3-2 before the big sixth-inning rally.
A.J. Pierzynski doubled home a run, and an RBI single by Elvis Andrus gave the Rangers a 4-3 edge, chasing Baltimore starter Scott Feldman (0-1).
Troy Patton came in and gave up an RBI bloop single to Engel Beltre to make it 5-3. After a forceout, Kinsler smashed his double to left to clear the bases and give the Rangers an 8-3 lead.
Matt Wieters hit two-run homer in the seventh to pull the Orioles within 8-5 against Derek Holland (7-4), who gave up five runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Joe Nathan pitched the ninth and got his 30th save. The first out came as he fanned Chris Davis -- the fourth whiff of the night for the slugger. Nathan also fanned Wieters, his fourth strikeout of the game.
Feldman was tagged with the loss in his second start for the Orioles, who have dropped 11 of their past 13 games against Texas. The Rangers (52-37) have the best road record in the American League at 25-18.
The Orioles tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth on an RBI double by Nate McLouth, who later scored on a throwing error by Texas first baseman Mitch Moreland.
Baltimore (49-41) then took a 3-2 lead on an RBI single by Manny Machado later in the inning, but Matt Wieters fanned with the bases loaded against Holland to end the frame.
Moreland had an RBI single with the bases loaded to give Texas a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Feldman, in his first home start for the Orioles, escaped more damage as Elvis Andrus grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Texas took a 1-0 lead in the third as Kinsler hit a two-out single to left to score Andrus.
It was the first game between the teams since Baltimore beat host Texas in the American League wild-card Game on Oct. 5, 2012. Both teams began Monday in second place in their respective division.
NOTES: Davis was chosen to take part in the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game next week in New York. ... Baltimore fans and talk show hosts were still raving about the play 3B Manny Machado made Sunday in New York against the Yankees' Luis Cruz as he threw from foul territory to retire the batter on a grounder. Manager Buck Showalter was asked before Monday's game if it was the best play the youngster has made. "I hope it is yet to come. I hope it is the one where he catches the last out in the World Series," Showalter said. ... With RHP Nick Tepesch going on the disabled list Sunday, RHP Yu Darvish and Holland are the only pitchers in the Texas' Opening Day rotation not currently on the DL. ... Texas manager Ron Washington said before the game he plans to start RHP Ross Wolf or RHP Josh Lindblom against the Orioles on Wednesday. ... LHP Zach Britton, from Weatherford, Texas, is slated to start for the Orioles on Tuesday. He'll face LHP Martin Perez.
