Pearce with a career-high four hits as O's complete four-game sweep

Wei-Yin Chen had a bounceback outing. Steve Pearce just continued doing what he has been doing. It added up to a 5-2 Orioles win over Texas tonight, as they completed their first four-game home sweep of the Rangers since Aug. 6-9, 2004.

The Orioles improved to 46-39, moving a season-high seven games over the .500 mark. They have won nine of 13 games and are 20-12 since May 31.

Pearce drove in the Orioles' first run with a third-inning single and he was in the middle of their two-run rally in the fifth with some help from the bottom of the order.

Down 2-1 heading to that frame, No. 8 hitter Ryan Flaherty led off with a double and scored on No. 9 hitter Nick Hundley's second double of the night for a 2-2 tie. One out later Pearce doubled to score Hundley for the 3-2 lead.

The Orioles made it 5-2 in the seventh on an Adam Jones sac fly and Chris Davis' RBI single. It was Jones' 53rd RBI and the hit by Davis snapped a 1-for-25 stretch for the Orioles first baseman.

Pearce went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two stolen bases and two RBIs. The four hits are a career high. Over his last 15 games, Pearce is 23-for-59 (.390) with eight doubles, six homers, 17 RBIs and nine multi-hit games.

The Orioles had a season-high six doubles tonight, but their 12-game streak of hitting at least one homer came to an end.

Meanwhile, Chen tonight provided the Orioles with just their third quality start in the last 11 games. He went six innings, allowing six hits and two runs with two walks and four strikeouts, throwing 99 pitches. He improves to 8-3 with an ERA of 4.12 over 17 starts.

The expected Chen-Yu Darvish pitching duel did not happen when Darvish was a late scratch for Scott Baker. The Rangers didn't want Darvish to start a game that might have been halted by rain.

Chen pitched much better than his previous start when he gave up five runs over 3 1/3 against Tampa Bay in the shortest outing of his career. Chen is now 4-0 with an ERA of 1.67 in four career starts against Texas.

The Orioles now head to Boston to begin a weekend series Friday afternoon at Fenway Park when Miguel Gonzalez (4-5, 4.56 ERA) faces left-hander Jon Lester (9-7, 2.92 ERA).