• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Rangers blank O's to continue red-hot start

Apr 10, 2011 - 11:53 PM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer and Adrian Beltre added a solo shot as Texas topped Baltimore, 3-0, in the finale of a three-game set from Camden Yards.

Derek Holland (2-0) turned in six scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and fanning six for the Rangers, who took two of three in the series. Neftali Feliz worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings to notch his third save.

The defending AL champions improved to 8-1 thus far, topping their 7-1 start to the 1996 campaign and moving closer to a franchise-best 10-1 opening to the 1989 season.

"It's huge," Holland said of the team's start. "People don't give us enough credit. They were already talking about Boston and everything else. I feel like people don't realize how good this team is, too."

Jeremy Guthrie (1-1) gave up just one run on four hits in six full frames for the Orioles, who were trying to start a season 7-2 for the first time since 1998. Guthrie made the solid start after being sidelined by pneumonia.

"You face a team with those type of hitters, I think it doesn't matter what you've done, whether you felt unbelievable or been in the hospital with pneumonia," Guthrie said. "You feel real pleased to get out of that game with a few hits and one run allowed."

Beltre's leadoff homer to left in the fourth broke the scoreless tie, and the Rangers got a break in the Baltimore fifth.

Nick Markakis singled with two out and Derrek Lee followed with a double off the wall in left. A relay throw to the plate bounced away from catcher Matt Wieters at the same time Markakis ran through a stop sign at third. Markakis, though, hit the brakes one-third of the way down the line before returning to the bag. Vladimir Guerrero then flied out to end the frame.

Kinsler's two-run homer to left-center off Jim Johnson in the seventh made it 3-0 for Texas, then Darren Oliver turned in a scoreless frame.

Darren O'Day and Feliz managed to keep the Orioles off the board in the eighth despite having two runners on. Feliz worked around a one-out single from Felix Pie and retired Brian Roberts and Markakis to end the game.

Game Notes

Texas has won four of its last six games at Baltimore...Markakis has reached base at least once in all nine games...The Rangers continue their road swing at Detroit on Monday and the Orioles begin a six-game trip on Tuesday with the first of three in the Bronx.