J.J. Hardy's tiebreaking homer in seventh lifts O's past Texas

Did the Orioles beat the Texas Rangers at their own game tonight?

Tied 2-2 in the last of the seventh, shortstop J.J. Hardy hit a two-run shot to left to break the tie and send the Orioles to a 4-2 win over the Rangers at Camden Yards. While Texas has hit 10 homers in this series, the Orioles have five, and No. 5 by Hardy was big.

Chris Davis singled to start that inning against right-hander Nick Martinez, the losing pitcher. The single extended Davis' hitting streak to 11 games to tie his career high. One out later, Hardy's blast on at 1-1 fastball provided a 4-2 lead. It was his fourth homer of the season and second in six games.

Wei-Yin Chen overcame two early homers to pitch a very strong game for the Orioles. Over eight innings, he allowed four hits and the two runs on one walk and two strikeouts. Chen was very pitch efficient, throwing 87 pitches to get 24 outs as he improved to 4-4 with an ERA of 2.84.

In five starts since June 1, Chen is 3-0 with an ERA of 2.16 and has allowed two earned runs or less all five times. Tonight, he went eight innings for the second time in three starts.

Zach Britton closed it out, striking out the side in the ninth, for his 23rd save in 24 chances and his 19th consecutive, which is a new career-best for Britton.

The Rangers' homer barrage continued when Shin-Soo Choo led off the third inning, hitting No. 11 on a 1-2 fastball from Chen for the 1-0 lead. An inning later, Ryan Rua hit his second for the 2-0 lead. Video replay confirmed the ball hit the top of the wall over the grounds crew's shed for the homer. At that point, the Rangers had hit nine homers in 14 innings off O's starting pitching in the series.

The Orioles got one back on Jimmy Paredes' solo shot in the last of the fourth to trail 2-1. Paredes hit No. 10 on a 1-2 pitch. It was his fourth homer over his past 12 games. They tied it 2-2 in the sixth on a Paredes fielder's choice that scored Ryan Flaherty, who had doubled.

The Orioles improve to 42-36 and win for the eighth time in 11 games and 19th in 26. They are 26-15 at home and winners of 11 of the last 14 at the Yard. They've also won 12 of the last 15 meetings against the Rangers.

In the series and homestand finale on Thursday night, Kevin Gausman (1-0, 4.24 ERA) faces right-hander Yovani Gallardo (7-6, 2.72 ERA).