Rangers romp in Game 2 to split twin bill

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

April 09, 2011, 6:25pm

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In a Game 2 matchup for the best record in the American League, the Orioles took an early lead but didn't score again in a 13-1 loss to Texas. The Birds were held to four hits. The clubs split the doubleheader leaving Texas with the top record in the league at 7-1 while the O's fall to 6-2. Jake Arrieta, who entered with a 1-1 record and 1.38 ERA in two career starts vs. Texas, got knocked out of this game in the 4th inning. Texas scored six runs in the 3rd and added two more in the 4th after being shutout 5-0 in the opener. Arrieta, now 1-1, 8.68 ERA on the year, gave up a career-high eight runs over 3 1/3 innings. Arrieta's career-best, three-game win streak ended. Texas starter, lefty Matt Harrison, yielded a homer to Adam Jones in the 2nd, but was excellent after that. In fact, after Jones' homer, Harrison retired the last 18 O's he faced before he exited after the last of the 7th. He is now 2-0 with an ERA of 1.29 after also allowing just one run in his first start versus Boston. The Orioles' Game 1 win ended a streak where Texas had swept the O's in four consecutive doubleheaders. The attendance was 36,243. The clubs meet Sunday at 1:35 in the third and deciding game of this series.