O's win over A's for first four-game win streak at Oakland since 1998

In Oakland today, the Orioles lost a catcher, but won another game. Taylor Teagarden suffered a dislocated thumb on his left hand in the sixth inning and exited the Orioles' 7-3 win over Oakland. It is possible that Teagarden will now head to the disabled list and that Luis Exposito, who is on the 40-man roster, could be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Meanwhile, with today's win, the Orioles have now won four games in a row at Oakland (counting the last one last year) for the first time since May 23-Sept. 9, 1998. Tomorrow, the Orioles have a chance to sweep a four-game series at Oakland for the first time since May 22-25, 1987. By winning today, they have taken their first series at Oakland since July 20-22, 2007. Pedro Strop started the ninth with a four-run lead. but hit the first batter and walked the second. That forced the Orioles to go to closer Jim Johnson, who pitched out of a bases-loaded no-outs jam to get his 10th save in 10 chances this year and 31st consecutive since last July 30. The Orioles went to the fourth this afternoon down 2-0, but erupted for four quick runs against right-hander A.J. Griffin. Nick Markakis hit a two-run homer and Adam Jones followed with a solo blast to center as the Birds went back-to-back. Later, a J.J. Hardy RBI single scored Chris Davis, who was running on the pitch, all the way from first base. In the eighth, Nate McLouth led off with a solo homer and Davis made it a 6-2 game with a sac fly for his 25th RBI. McLouth added an RBI single in the ninth and had three more hits today. He is 11-for-24 over his last seven games and has reached base on 18 of his last 31 plate appearances. Chris Tillman got his first win of the year. He went six innings, allowing seven hits and two runs to improve to 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA. He walked two and fanned seven, throwing 103 pitches. In this series, O's starters have worked to an ERA of 0.90, allowing just two earned runs in three games. Over the last eight games, the Orioles have six quality starts and a starting pitchers' ERA of 3.17. The Orioles are 15-9 and moved a season-high six games over .500. They have won three in a row, five of six, eight of 10 and 12 of their last 17 games. After going 3-16 at Oakland over the previous five seasons, they are 3-0 there in 2013 and looking for one more on Sunday afternoon.