masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgJeremy Guthrie settled down after allowing four runs in the first inning, but the Rangers scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to 6-2.

Michael Gonzalez replaced Guthrie in the sixth. Guthrie allowed six runs and eight hits, increasing his ERA to 4.23. He threw 101 pitches, 60 for strikes.

The Orioles had runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the sixth and failed to score.

That won’t help their runners in scoring position…Jeremy Guthrie settled down after allowing four runs in the first inning, but the Rangers scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to 6-2.

Michael Gonzalez replaced Guthrie in the sixth. Guthrie allowed six runs and eight hits, increasing his ERA to 4.23. He threw 101 pitches, 60 for strikes.

The Orioles had runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the sixth and failed to score.

That won’t help their runners in scoring position stat.

They’ve been held to three hits, including Robert Andino’s infield single in the sixth. They didn’t have a hit since Derrek Lee’s two-run homer in the second.

Instant update: The Rangers don’t have as many issues with RISP. Ian Kinsler’s two-out single off Gonzalez increased their lead to 7-2 in the sixth.

Update II: The hits just keep coming. Elvis Andrus’ double over Felix Pie’s head scored Kinsler. Rangers 8, Orioles 2.

Update III: Vladimir Guerrero homered for the first time since June 12. Rangers 8, Orioles 3.

See, that’s why he bats cleanup.

More on Guthrie: In his last four starts, he’s 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA. He’s allowed 31 hits and walked 13 in 24 innings.

Down on the farm, Rhyne Hughes hit his 11th home run tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, and Jake Fox hit his seventh.

Josh Bell is 2-for-4 with an RBI. He’s batting .256.

Clay Rapada struggled again tonight. He gave up three earned runs (four total) and four hits in one inning, with one walk and two strikeouts. His ERA is 18.00.

Jeremy Accardo didn’t allow a run in two-thirds of an inning, but he gave up two hits and walked a batter.

Double-A Bowie left-hander Mike Ballard struck out 11 Reading batters in seven innings. He allowed one run and two hits, and didn’t issue a walk, in a 4-1 victory.

Mike Wright, the Orioles’ third-round pick out of East Carolina, allowed one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings for short-season Single-A Aberdeen.