Sat Jul 5 22:20:40 2008

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Sizzling Kinsler lifts Rangers over Orioles

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Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Ian Kinsler smashed a two-run home run to help the Texas Rangers to a 5-3 win in the middle portion of a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Michael Young went 3-for-5 with an RBI, while German Duran was 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored for the Rangers, who have won four of their last six games. Scott Feldman (3-3) picked up the win for giving up three runs on five hits and four walks over six innings.

Nick Markakis hit a two-run double and Brian Burres was tagged for three runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Orioles, who had won three of four coming into the contest. Lance Cormier (1-3) was charged with the loss.

Texas struck quick in the first inning as Kinsler led off with a double and then came home when Young followed with a single for a 1-0 lead.

Baltimore, though, answered to take the lead in the bottom of the first. Back- to-back singles from Brian Roberts and Jay Payton was followed by a double from Markakis to bring home both runners. Melvin Mora later lifted a sacrifice fly to score Markakis for a 3-1 advantage.

The Rangers got a run back in the second as Duran punched a one-out double and later crossed the plate on a single from Josh Hamilton.

Texas then grabbed the lead in the sixth. After issuing a two-out double to Duran, Burres stepped aside on the mound for Cormier. Kinsler then greeted Cormier with a line drive shot that just cleared the left field wall for a 4-3 lead.

The Orioles, meanwhile, hit into double plays in the second and fourth inning and stranded two men on base in the fifth and sixth innings.

Baltimore got a one-out double from Roberts in the seventh inning and he later moved to third on an infield single from Markakis. Aubrey Huff, though, weakly grounded out to second to end the frame.

Texas added some insurance in the eighth as the team loaded the bases before Young hit into a double play to plate Max Ramirez.

Eddie Guardado worked around a one-out single in the eighth, while C.J. Wilson struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his 20th save of the season.

Game Notes

Texas catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia left the game in the sixth inning with a strained right groin...Texas left 10 men on base while Baltimore stranded eight...Kinsler has 14 home runs while Hamilton drove in his MLB-leading 83rd run of the season...Attendance was 19,006.