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Jones helps Orioles rally for 8-5 win over Rangers

Apr 26, 2009 - 10:19 PM BALTIMORE (AP) -- Adam Jones enjoyed beating the high-powered Texas Rangers at their own game.

Jones hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and the Baltimore Orioles rallied for an 8-5 victory Sunday.

"We can mash, too," Jones said. "We're different ballclubs, different style teams. They hack. I love watching them - not against us, but I love watching them."

With one out, Cesar Izturis was hit on his left foot and Brian Roberts singled to left before Jones hit an 0-1 slider from reliever Jason Jennings (0-1) into the seats in left-center to give Baltimore a 7-5 lead. Jones' third homer completed the Orioles' comeback from a 5-1 deficit.

"Things were jumping out of here today. (Jones) hit it in the right spot," Jennings said.

Texas' bullpen has a 6.75 ERA, though manager Ron Washington isn't worried about his relievers' ineffectiveness. Washington is more concerned with his starters coughing up leads.

"My bullpen isn't giving me any concerns. I think my bullpen has been doing a good job," he said. "It got us today. No concern here."

Chris Davis, David Murphy and Hank Blalock connected for the Rangers, who lead the major leagues with 38 home runs and have hit two or more in a game 14 times this season, also most in the majors.

Roberts had four hits and also homered for the Orioles, and Nick Markakis had two RBIs. Markakis singled in the fifth, extending his hitting streak to 13 games and reaching base safely for the 27th consecutive game, the longest active streak in the majors.

Danys Baez (1-1) got the victory with three hitless innings. George Sherrill worked the ninth for his fourth save.

Baez came in after rookie Brad Bergesen allowed five straight hits to open the fifth. With runners on first and second, Baez struck out Davis and retired Jarrod Saltalamacchia on a popup. Elvis Andrus reached on third baseman Ty Wigginton's error, loading the bases, but Baez got Ian Kinsler to ground out.

Baez kept Texas from adding to its 5-1 lead, giving the Orioles time to rally.

"The momentum of the game changed when he got out of the (fifth) inning," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "There was a different feel in the dugout after he got out of that inning and when we scored a couple, I think everybody felt like we were going to win the game."

Davis homered with Marlon Byrd aboard in the second inning to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead. Davis' drive off Bergesen was his third in four games and fifth overall.

Murphy snapped an 0-for-23 start with his first hit of the season, a solo shot to left-center leading off the fifth. After Michael Young's double, Blalock homered to center for a 5-1 lead.

Bergesen allowed five runs and 10 hits.

"He was probably too strong because he didn't have his good sink," Trembley said. "So that tells me he was probably trying to either overthrow or was too strong."

Roberts led off the fifth with his second homer. Markakis then singled, went to second on Aubrey Huff's hit to right and was awarded home when right fielder Nelson Cruz, aiming for third base, threw wildly into the stands. Luke Scott's double to the wall in left-center made it 5-4.

Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy exited after allowing four runs and nine hits over five innings.

"I couldn't be more disappointed with what I did in the fifth," McCarthy said. "They went out and got me runs - I got a four-run lead at that point. It's time to get a shutdown inning. ... It's just unacceptable at that juncture in the game. I didn't help our cause at all."

Notes: Texas' Omar Vizquel, who turned 42 on Friday, became the third 42-year-old in major league history to play shortstop when he entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth. He joins Luke Appling (1949) and Hall of Famer Honus Wagner (1916). ... Rangers CF Josh Hamilton was out of the starting lineup with bruised ribs, which he hurt sliding into third base on a double steal Saturday night. A team spokesman said X-rays were negative. Hamilton struck out looking as a pinch hitter in the eighth. ... Roberts had his team-high ninth multi-hit game of the season.