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Bedard fans 11 as Orioles down Rangers

Aug 22, 2007 - 3:06 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The major league leader in strikeouts was at it again Tuesday.

Erik Bedard pitched seven solid innings and collected 11 strikeouts and Miguel Tejada homered as the Baltimore Orioles posted a 6-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in the opener of a three-game series.

Bedard extended his major league-leading strikeout total to 218, which ties Mike Mussina's team record for most in a season.

"It feels good to be in the same category as Mike Mussina," Bedard said. "He's someone who has had a great career and continues to have success."

The lefthander yielded just two runs and five hits, three of which were infield singles, with no walks.

Bedard (13-4) has been one of baseball's best pitchers over the past two months as the Orioles have been victorious in his last 12 starts. The Canadian has posted a 9-0 record with a 2.20 ERA and 106 strikeouts over that span.

"This year he's been as dominating as ever," Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar said. "He has great command of three pitches, that's what makes him tough."

After retiring seven consecutive batters, Bedard surrendered an infield hit to Marlon Byrd that was followed with back-to-back RBI doubles by Jason Botts and Nelson Cruz, respectively, in the seventh inning to cut the Orioles' advantage to 6-2.

"They put the bat on the ball in the seventh," Bedard said. "I left some pitches a little up and they hit them."

Tejada blasted a two-run homer off Texas starter Vicente Padilla (3-9) in the first inning to give Baltimore a 3-0 lead. The 31-year-old Tejada, who had three hits, has registered a hit in 13 of his last 14 games but had not recorded a multi-hit performance since August 8.

"I'm feeling comfortable at the plate," Tejada said. "It feels good."

The Orioles added three more runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run shot from Aubrey Huff, his 11th of the season.

The Rangers have struck out 30 times over the last two games.

"I wish we see aces everyday, the more you see them, the better you become," Ranger manager Ron Washington said. "I'm not complaining who we face. You figure it out and get it done no matter who is out there. We just faced two of the best lefthanders in the game (Minnesota's Johan Santana and Bedard), but that's the way baseball goes."

Padilla lasted just five frames, giving up six runs on seven hits and four walks.

"I am disappointed in my pitching," Padilla said. "I need to pitch better to help the team."

Sammy Sosa went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts for the Rangers, who have lost four of their last five contests.

Baltimore has won four of its last six games.