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Mendoza earns first major league win as Rangers beat Orioles

Sep 22, 2007 - 3:59 AM By Randy Krone PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Texas Rangers starting pitcher Luis Mendoza only hoped his second major league start would last longer than his first.

Mendoza, who was forced to leave his first start in the third inning after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Oakland's Nick Swisher, pitched five strong innings, picking up his first major league victory and Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in two runs as the Rangers defeated the Baltimore Orioles 3-2.

The 23-year-old righthander, obtained from the Boston Red Sox in 2006, surrendered only four hits while striking out a pair and issuing a single walk.

"I'm extremely happy right now," Mendoza said. "It really means the beginning of my big league career. I just want to show some consistency and that I'm capable of getting big league hitters out."

"Mendoza was good tonight," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He did a good job, he kept the ball down and when you have the stuff he has, you shouldn't be concerned with facing any big league hitters."

A trio of Rangers relievers allowed the Orioles just two hits over the final four frames with Joaquin Benoit pitching the ninth for his sixth save of the year.

The Orioles struck first in the second inning when Miguel Tejada lined his 18th home run of the season, a solo shot down the right field line.

"Tejada was just one pitch," Mendoza said. "I just missed with the two-seamer and left it up in the strike zone. I tried to keep it away but he just got a good swing on it."

Baltimore threatened further when, with two outs, rookie Scott Moore blooped a single to left and catcher Gustavo Molina lined a double down the right field line. A perfect relay to Texas catcher Gerald Laird cut down Moore attempting to score from first.

"That relay throw was really nice and Laird made sure he got some of his body in front of the plate," Washington said.

Texas answered in the bottom of the second when Sammy Sosa walked and moved to third on Marlon Byrd's double to left. Both runners scored on a line-drive single to center by Saltalamacchia.

Nelson Cruz extended Texas' lead in the fourth with a solo home run to left field, his eighth of the year. Cruz had three hits in the game, on the heels of a two-hit game on Thursday.

The Rangers defense, abysmal of late while surrendering 14 errors over their last nine games, almost allowed Baltimore a golden opportunity.

With two outs in the seventh, Moore reached on a rare double-error. A ground ball hit to Saltalamacchia at first was misplayed and an errant throw to the pitcher covering first was wild, allowing Moore to go to second. The errors did not haunt Texas however, as pinch hitter Aubrey Huff flew out to center to end the inning.

Baltimore added a run in the ninth but saw the rally fall short when Benoit struck out catcher Paul Bako for the second out and Melvin Mora, who had walked, was thrown out attempting to steal to end the game.

"I sent Mora to stay out of the double play," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "Bako has been in those situations many times and I was going for the win on the road."

Orioles starter Victor Santos (0-2) gave up three runs and five hits over five innings. Making his third start since coming over from Cincinnati, Santos has now given up 12 runs in 12 innings since being claimed off waivers.

Baltimore has now lost 23 of their last 30 games.