masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAnother win for the rookie – After giving up three runs in the first today, Brian Matusz was strong after that. He pitched seven innings for the second start in a row and is now 4-2, 5.26 on the year.

Matusz, who retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced, needed 52 pitches for his first three innings, but just 41 for the last four frames. He did not give up a hit over those last four innings.

Over his last two starts, he is 2-0, 3.21 with wins over Cleveland and Texas. Today he threw…Another win for the rookie – After giving up three runs in the first today, Brian Matusz was strong after that. He pitched seven innings for the second start in a row and is now 4-2, 5.26 on the year.

Matusz, who retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced, needed 52 pitches for his first three innings, but just 41 for the last four frames. He did not give up a hit over those last four innings.

Over his last two starts, he is 2-0, 3.21 with wins over Cleveland and Texas. Today he threw 93 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Over the last 15 games, O’s starters have pitched to an ERA of 3.54.

The pen pitches in – The O’s bullpen has pitched five shutout innings in this series. Today, Danys Baez pitched a 1-2-3 8th on just seven pitches and Jim Johnson retired the side in order in the 9th on just 11 pitches for his 8th save.

The O’s are now 4-5 on the year vs. Texas and 2-4 at home vs. the Rangers. The O’s are 11-23 vs. the AL West, including a mark of 5-13 at home.

They are now 3-6 on this homestand which ends Sunday and 33-37 at home on the year.

Mora’s bid day – Melvin Mora tied his season high with three hits today. He hit his 7th homer and knocked in three runs. On this homestand, Mora is batting .400 (12 for 30) with three homers and 8 RBI. Today was his ninth three-hit game of the year.

Nolan Reimold went 2 for 4 with a double and solo homer. He is 8 for 15 during a four-game batting streak and is hitting .304 since the All-Star break.

Reimold began today leading all AL rookies in average, homers, total bases, on base percentage, slugging percentage and walks.

With this result, the O’s snapped a four-game losing streak and the Rangers’ four-game win streak.

Tough loss for them – Texas falls to 76-59. A win today would have moved the Rangers to within one game of Boston in the wild-card race.

The O’s improved to 1-3 in September, 15-33 since the All-Star break and 14-24 in day games.