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BALTIMORE (AP) — Steve Pearce hit two of Baltimore's four home runs off Joe Saunders and Ubaldo Jimenez ended a run of nine winless starts as the Orioles defeated the Texas Rangers 7-1 Monday night.
Pearce put Baltimore ahead to stay with a two-run drive in the first inning and connected with a man on in the fourth. It was his first two-homer game during a career that began in 2007.
Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy also homered for the Orioles, who hit a major league-leading 46 long balls in June. The four home runs provided Baltimore with a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning against Saunders , who came in 7-0 lifetime against the Orioles.
Jimenez (3-8) allowed one run, none earned, and four hits with seven strikeouts in eight innings. The right-hander walked only one after issuing 30 free passes in his previous seven starts.
Signed to a four-year, $50 million contract in February, Jimenez was 0-4 in nine starts since May 8 and 0-6 with a 6.28 ERA in eight starts this season at Camden Yards.
Saunders (0-5) gave up seven runs and nine hits in five innings. The left-hander is 0-8 over 12 starts since beating Houston last August.
The Rangers' 10th loss in 12 games left them 9-17 in June. Texas has dropped six straight on the road, its longest skid since an 0-6 streak in August 2010.
Baltimore pounced on Saunders immediately. Nick Markakis drew a leadoff walk and Pearce followed with a drive to left. After Saunders got the first out, Jones hit a shot into the left-field seats.
One inning later, Hardy made it 4-0 with his second home run of the season. The shortstop hit 25 last year.
It was 6-0 before Texas got a run in the fifth on a throwing error by Chris Davis, who was playing third base for the first time since 2011. That's because the Orioles were without Manny Machado, who began a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing his bat toward third in a June 8 game against Oakland.
Davis, who usually plays first base, drew Pearce off first base with a hurried throw while Leonys Martin scored from third with two outs.
Caleb Joseph delivered a sacrifice fly in the bottom half.
NOTES: The Rangers sent RHP Cory Burns to Tampa Bay on a waiver claim to make room for INF Adam Rosales, who was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. ... Nick Martinez, who's winless in his last six starts, starts for Texas on Tuesday night against T.J. McFarland, whose previous 14 appearances this season have been in relief. ... The Orioles reinstated INF Michael Almanzar from the 60-day DL and designated the Rule 5 draft pick for assignment. ... Baltimore selected the contract of RHP Ramon Ramirez from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned reliever Evan Meek to the same club. Ramirez got the last three outs.
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