The Orioles didn't plan on sending down Yefry Ramírez after tonight's game, no matter how he pitched. They need a starter for Sunday and were ready to recall Jimmy Yacabonis before an illness nixed those plans, but Ramírez wasn't going to be the corresponding move.

Filling out the rotation after the All-Star break includes keeping Ramírez in it, a byproduct of the team falling out of contention early and a spot remaining open after Chris Tillman was placed on the disabled list. They didn't want to be without Ramírez for the minimum 10 days, a sure sign that he's become an intriguing figure on the staff.

It makes sense to run him back out there, especially if he isn't going to give up any runs.

Ramírez tossed five scoreless innings tonight against the Rangers in his fourth major league start, holding them to two hits and striking out seven batters. The Orioles broke a scoreless tie in the sixth against left-hander Martin Pérez and won 1-0 before an announced crowd of 38,328 at Camden Yards.

A walk to No. 9 hitter Caleb Joseph and two errors conspired against the Rangers, who fell behind on Jonathan Schoop's sacrifice fly.

Tim Beckham reached on an infield hit and Joseph advanced to third base on Adrián Beltré's throwing error, which was followed by Schoop's fly ball to center field.

Given the chance to build on their lead after Manny Machado singled and moved to second when center fielder Delino DeShields misplayed the ball, the Orioles stranded two runners in scoring position. Shortstop Elvis Andrus made a leaping catch to rob Adam Jones, and Mark Trumbo grounded out.

The bullpen covered the last four innings and the Orioles had their fifth shutout while improving to 27-69 overall, 15-33 at home and 2-16 versus the American League West. The win is only their fourth in the last 21 games.

Schoop's throwing error in the eighth put two runners on base with no outs, but Mychal Givens picked off pinch-runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa and retired the next two batters to preserve the 1-0 lead.

Zach Britton survived a two-out walk and wild pitch, striking out two batters for his third save. Brad Brach struck out two batters in a scoreless sixth to earn the win.

Shin-Soo Choo singled off Givens leading off the eighth. Schoop let Andrus' soft liner drop in front of him, bobbled the ball and fired it past Chris Davis while trying for a 4-3-6 double play. But the pickoff, force play and foul pop up allowed Givens to get away unscathed.

Pérez, making his first start since April 29, held the Orioles to one run and five hits in seven innings. They've been held to one run or fewer in 26 games.

Ramírez walked Choo leading off the first inning and struck out two batters. He walked Ronald Guzmán and allowed a bloop single to Robinson Chirinos with one out in the second and stranded them, striking out his third batter of the game.

Forty-six pitches in two innings wasn't an ideal pace, but at least the game remained scoreless.

He made it through the fifth, retiring the last seven batters, and the Orioles made one run stand up.