masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAfter a poor start, O’s rookie lefty Brian Matusz settled in and pitched a solid game Saturday as the Orioles beat Texas 5-4 at Camden Yards.

The loss was damaging to the Rangers, who would have pulled within one game of Boston in the wild-card race with a victory.

Matusz allowed three runs in the first and not much after that. He improves to 4-2, 5.26. He retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced.

Matusz allowed six hits and four runs over seven innings, throwing 93 pitches. He allowed…After a poor start, O’s rookie lefty Brian Matusz settled in and pitched a solid game Saturday as the Orioles beat Texas 5-4 at Camden Yards.

The loss was damaging to the Rangers, who would have pulled within one game of Boston in the wild-card race with a victory.

Matusz allowed three runs in the first and not much after that. He improves to 4-2, 5.26. He retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced.

Matusz allowed six hits and four runs over seven innings, throwing 93 pitches. He allowed a run in the third, but only after Nick Markakis lost a fly ball in the sun that went for a triple.

Over his last two starts, Matusz is 2-0, 3.21.

Danys Baez needed just seven pitches in a 1-2-3 8th inning and Jim Johnson needed only 11 pitches to hurl a scoreless 9th and record his 8th save.

Melvin Mora led the O’s on offense with three hits and three RBI. He hit his 7th homer in the second inning, a 402-foot shot to left center.

Nolan Reimold had a solo homer and double as the O’s improved to 3-6 on this homestand that ends on Sunday.

Losing pitcher Kevin Millwood (10-9) gave up five runs over five innings as the Rangers four-game win streak was snapped.

Tex…….4-6-1
Balt……5-8-0