Corbin Burnes pitched seven strong innings, allowing nine hits but just one run, as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the struggling Texas Rangers 11-2 on Thursday night. Rookie Heston Kjerstad started with a home run and three RBIs, while Cedric Mullins, Adley Rutschman, and Colton Cowser also hit homers for the Orioles.
They took an early 8-1 lead by the fourth inning against Jon Gray, securing their second consecutive win after a five-game losing streak.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde praised Burnes for setting the tone with his pitching and highlighted the team’s offensive performance against Gray, a formidable pitcher. Adolis Garcia homered for the Rangers, who have now lost four straight games and are struggling with a seven-game losing streak on the road, along with dropping eight consecutive road series openers.
The series between the Orioles and Rangers, which concludes on Sunday, is a rematch of last year’s AL Division Series. While Hyde acknowledged the significance of that postseason sweep, he emphasized that a regular-season series in June isn’t quite the same.
The Orioles, boasting a 51-30 record at the halfway point of the season, demonstrated their power hitting in this game, which is a key strength for them. Kjerstad’s two-run homer in the third inning was crucial, Mullins continued his hot streak with another home run, and Rutschman added a solo shot in the seventh inning against Jonathan Hernández.
