| SEASON | CAREER |
| W4 | 30 |
| L7 | 23 |
| G22 | 87 |
| IP118.0 | 453.0 |
| BB23 | 107 |
| SO65 | 251 |
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W7 | 34 |
| L6 | 28 |
| G20 | 99 |
| IP121.0 | 514.0 |
| BB37 | 175 |
| SO98 | 421 |
There have been only three home runs hit in the first two games of this series between the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers .
Given the propensity of the starters in Wednesday night's finale to give up the long ball, there's likely to be a few more clearing the fence.
Both the Orioles and Rangers play in hitter-friendly parks, so it's not surprising that each team has a starter that ranks in the top 10 in the AL in home runs allowed. Those pitchers will square off in this game, with Baltimore's Tommy Hunter (4-7, 5.49 ERA) opposing Derek Holland (7-6, 4.98).
No pitcher in baseball has surrendered more homers than Hunter, whose 29 allowed ties him with the Angels' Ervin Santana for most in the majors.
The right-hander has given up at least one home run in 11 consecutive starts after yielding a pair at Detroit on Friday. Despite those mistakes, he limited the Tigers to three runs and four hits in six innings before Baltimore's bullpen faltered in a 5-3 loss.
Hunter will get another chance to beat his former team after losing to the Rangers in his first try May 10. Acquired from Texas on July 30, 2011, Hunter permitted four runs and five hits in six innings of a 7-3 loss versus Holland at Camden Yards.
Holland has been reached for 23 homers - tied for seventh most in the league - with 12 of those coming in his last eight starts spanning 54 innings.
"He misses his spot," manager Ron Washington told the team's official website. "He's throwing the ball down the middle of the plate. I've seen changeups leave the ballpark. I've seen fastballs leave the ballpark. Am I missing any of his pitches? In certain counts, he's trying to get the ball in a certain area, and he's missing."
The Orioles (67-56), though, haven't taken Holland deep in the last two matchups, and have managed only three unearned runs against him over 12 innings in those games - both wins for the left-hander.
Holland allowed five runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings Thursday at Yankee Stadium and was in line for the loss before the Rangers rallied for a 10-6 victory.
Baltimore's only homer of this series thus far turned out to be a big one as Nate McLouth 's two-run shot capped a four-run fifth and Pedro Strop struck out Josh Hamilton in a key spot to help preserve a 5-3 victory Tuesday. J.J. Hardy and rookie Manny Machado added run-scoring hits in the fifth to help Baltimore win for the 12th time in 17 games.
"Pedy (Strop) got a couple of big outs for us," manager Buck Showalter said. "The bullpen has been a constant for us. We've been able to share the load and pass it around."The Orioles' bullpen threw 2 1-3 scoreless innings Tuesday and has a 1.57 ERA in the last 18 games. Closer Jim Johnson has allowed two hits in eight scoreless innings during that span, converting all seven save opportunities to tie for most in the majors with 38.
That stretch is part of Baltimore's 21-12 record since July 18, matching Tampa Bay and Seattle for most wins in the league in that time. A victory in the finale would give the Orioles wins in five straight road series.
West-leading Texas (71-51), meanwhile, failed for the third time to move a season-high 22 games over .500 and lost to the Orioles for only the second time in 11 meetings.
@
AVG
HRRUNSSBSOBBOBPSLGOPS
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Robert Andino | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .250 | .250 | .000 |
| Wilson Betemit | 6 | .167 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .167 | .334 | .167 |
| J.J. Hardy | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .000 |
| Adam Jones | 4 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Nick Markakis | 6 | .167 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .286 | .453 | .167 |
| Ronny Paulino | 3 | .667 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .667 | 1.667 | 1.000 |
| Nolan Reimold | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Mark Reynolds | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .000 |
| Matt Wieters | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .000 |
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Adrian Beltre | 8 | .500 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 1.500 | 1.000 |
| Mike Napoli | 5 | .400 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .400 | 1.000 | .600 |
 Baltimore Orioles |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| August 13, 2012 | Troy Patton | 15-Day DL | Sprained right ankle |
| August 12, 2012 | Wilson Betemit | 15-Day DL | Sore right wrist |
| August 02, 2012 | Ryan Flaherty | 15-Day DL | Bacterial infection |
| July 28, 2012 | Jim Thome | 15-Day DL | Herniated disc |
| July 16, 2012 | Robert Andino | 15-Day DL | Left shoulder subluxation |
| July 16, 2012 | Robert Andino | 15-Day DL | Left shoulder subluxation |
 Texas Rangers |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| August 11, 2012 | Mike Napoli | 15-Day DL | Strained left quadriceps |
| August 05, 2012 | Elvis Andrus | Day-to-Day | Left game - shoulder soreness |
| July 19, 2012 | Colby Lewis | 60-Day DL | Torn flexor tendon, right elbow |
| July 06, 2012 | Josh Hamilton | Day-to-Day | Left game - Lower back spasms |
| June 26, 2012 | Mark Lowe | 15-Day DL | Strained right intercostal muscle |
| June 26, 2012 | Mark Lowe | 15-Day DL | Strained right intercostal muscle |
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Adrian Beltre could not deny it. With two chances at matching a major league record four homers, he was thinking only one thing.
"I'm trying to hit a home run," Beltre said. "I got a pitch to hit, too, but I couldn't do it."
Beltre hit three home runs, including two in a nine-run fourth inning, and had five RBIs in the Texas Rangers ' 12-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.
He had chances in the sixth and eighth to become the 17th player all-time to hit four home runs - teammate Josh Hamilton did it May 8 at Baltimore - and grounded out both times.
Beltre hit his first homer leading off the second against former teammate Tommy Hunter . He connected again off Hunter for a two-run shot with none out in the fourth. He then hit another two-run drive with two outs while facing Kevin Gregg .
"It was a fantastic night," manager Ron Washington said. "I was hoping for him to get a fourth one also, but it didn't work."
Mitch Moreland hit his first grand slam in the fourth, when the Rangers sent 12 batters to the plate. He matched Beltre with a career high-tying five RBIs.
The power surge supported a solid effort by Derek Holland . The left-hander pitched seven innings, giving up three runs and five hits. He struck out five and walked three.
Hunter (4-8) allowed eight runs on eight hits - three home runs - in three-plus innings. Hunter, who spent parts of four seasons with the Rangers, was acquired by the Orioles along with first baseman Chris Davis in a 2011 trade-deadline deal for right-handed reliever Koji Uehara .
"He made a lot of mistakes," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "And they make him pay for it."
With his first home run, Beltre became the ninth third baseman with 10 seasons of at least 20 home runs. Beltre has had 23 multihomer games in his career. He also hit three homers in Game 4 of the AL division series against the Rays last year.
The Rangers gave Holland (8-6) plenty of support with the big inning.
Josh Hamilton , who matched a major league record with four home runs May 8 against the Orioles at Camden Yards, started the inning with a single and scored on Beltre's drive to left.
Nelson Cruz and Michael Young followed with singles before David Murphy 's run-scoring double. A walk to Geovany Soto set up Moreland's grand slam.
Three batters later Beltre hit his second homer of the inning, driving in Hamilton, who walked.
Beltre, who entered the game hitting .244 in his last 31 games, is hitting .462 (6 for 13) in his last three.
"I've been kind of struggling for a couple of weeks," Beltre said. "I've been working in the cages trying to find a comfort zone with my feet and hands.
"The last three days I stuck with something," he added.
Beltre, Murphy, Young and Ian Kinsler each had more than one hit. Shortstop Elvis Andrus was the only starter without a hit for the Rangers, who improved to 13-8 in August and maintained a five-game lead over Oakland in the AL West.
Murphy has five multihit games in his last six and is hitting .519 with four doubles, one home run and seven RBIs during the stretch. Since July 24 he leads the majors with 13 doubles.
Moreland swung the bat well, Murphy swung the bat well, we got it up and down the lineup tonight," Washington said.
Nick Markakis went 3 for 4 with three RBIs for Baltimore.
NOTES: The Rangers said before the game that right-hander Yu Darvish would not make his next scheduled start on Thursday as a precaution because of tightness in his right quadriceps. Team officials said Darvish is expected to make his next start on Tuesday. ... Orioles catcher Matt Wieters left the game after the sixth inning because of a right shoulder contusion sustained on a foul tip in the second inning. X-rays were negative. ... Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Jim Thome , on the disabled list with a herniated disk, is pain free and will begin baseball activities on Thursday. ... Uehara completed a rehabilitation appearance at Triple-A Round Rock with no complications and will pitch again Friday.
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Baltimore Orioles
