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Markakis, Gonzalez help O's trim Halos

Jun 12, 2013 - 5:09 AM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Nick Markakis finished 2-for-4 with the go- ahead two-run hit, and Miguel Gonzalez tossed eight solid innings, as Baltimore took down Los Angeles, 3-2, in the second edition of a three-game set from Camden Yards.

Manny Machado knocked in the other run for the Orioles, who have won the first two in the series and three straight overall.

Gonzalez (4-2) scattered four hits and one run -- a Mike Trout solo shot in the fourth -- while fanning five. Jim Johnson had a bit of trouble in the ninth, but locked down the victory for his 23rd save.

"He goes out there and pounds the zone, makes hitters swing at his pitches," Markakis said of Gonzalez. "He made a lot of great pitches and he did a good job for us."

Howie Kendrick totaled two hits and Albert Pujols drove in a late run for the Angels, who have lost nine of their last 11.

Jason Vargas (5-4) allowed seven hits and three runs over his 6 2/3-inning outing.

Vargas was pulled with two down in the sixth after giving up three infield hits, to Danny Valencia, Steve Pearce and Ryan Flaherty. Scott Downs came on, but Markakis greeted him with a two-run single to center for a 3-1 game. Michael Kohn was then called on, and stemmed the tide by fanning Machado.

"I really liked the way Jason Vargas pitched tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of his starter. "Three infield hits in the seventh inning kind of set the table for them and they got a big hit from Markakis."

Pujols walked to start the seventh but nothing came of it, then Gonzalez finished his outing by setting the Angels in order in the next frame.

The Angels made things interesting in the ninth, as Josh Hamilton doubled with two outs and scored when Pujols dribbled a ball up the middle. Johnson bore down and froze Mark Trumbo on a called third strike to end the contest.

Angels center fielder Peter Bourjos made a leaping grab at the wall to deny J.J. Hardy a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.

Trout's leadoff blast just to the left of center put the Halos on the board in the fourth.

In the home sixth, Flaherty singled and Markakis doubled, and a Machado grounder tied the game while moving Markakis to third. Baltimore came up empty from there as Hardy and Adam Jones both grounded out.

Game Notes

Baltimore has won five of six meetings this season, including three of four in southern California, after the Angels took 13 of 18 against the O's during the 2011-12 campaigns ... Gonzalez tied a career high for longest start, matching an eight-inning outing and 7-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals last August 10 ... Markakis notched his second multi-RBI effort in the last three and collected his ninth game of at least two runs batted in this year.