Baltimore, MD – Wei-Yin Chen spun seven stellar innings of one-run ball in his return from the disabled list Wednesday, as the Baltimore Orioles downed the Texas Rangers, 6-1, in the third tilt of a four-game set at Camden Yards.
Chen (4-3) hadn't pitched for the O's since May 12 due to a strained right oblique muscle, but didn't miss a beat in his return to the mound, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out four.
Nolan Reimold clubbed a three-run home run and Manny Machado collected three hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Orioles, who had dropped back-to-back games to open this series.
"It's something to build on," Reimold said. "It was a good night and just enjoy it now and get ready for tomorrow."
The victory was Baltimore's 50th of the season, marking the first time the O's had at least 50 wins before the All-Star break since 1997 when they were 55-30.
Texas starter Josh Lindblom (1-3) labored through 5 1/3 frames, giving up all six runs on nine hits and four walks while tossing 119 pitches to absorb the loss.
A.J. Pierzynski recorded half of Texas' four hits, while Adrian Beltre knocked in the lone run for the Rangers, who had a three-game win streak halted.
Baltimore broke through against Lindblom in the third when Nate McLouth smacked a one-out single and Machado followed with a triple into the gap in left-center field.
After Nick Markakis popped out and Adam Jones walked to leave runners on the corners with two outs, Lindblom uncorked a wild pitch with Chris Davis at the plate, allowing Machado to race home for a 2-0 lead.
Baltimore tacked on four more runs in the fourth, as Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy started the frame with consecutive walks.
Brian Roberts then launched a fly ball deep into right-center field that Engel Beltre nearly made a spectacular play on, but as he jumped at the wall, the ball hit the heel of his glove before bouncing off the top of the wall and back into play.
Wieters scored from second on the play, while Roberts ended up with a single that found runners on the corners.
After a brief video review confirmed the call on the field, Reimold ripped a first-pitch fastball into the seats in left to give the O's a 6-0 cushion.
"The pitch to Reimold was just a first-pitch heater," Lindblom said. "It was a good pitch to hit for him."
Chen surrendered just one hit over the first five frames and didn't allow a runner to move past second until the sixth, when Ian Kinsler worked a leadoff walk and moved to third on Nelson Cruz's one-out single to right.
Beltre followed with a fielder's choice to third that allowed Kinsler to score to get the Rangers on the board.
Pierzynski clubbed a double high off the right-field wall to put runners at second and third, but Chen got Elvis Andrus to groundout to third to escape the jam with Baltimore holding a 6-1 lead.
Chen bounced back with a 1-2-3 seventh before Tommy Hunter held the Rangers to one hit over the final two frames to secure the victory.
Game Notes
Texas pitcher Yu Darvish was slated to start Thursday's series finale, but was scratched and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his right shoulder ... Baltimore activated Chen from the DL prior to the game and recalled pitcher Josh Stinson from Triple-A Norfolk while optioning pitchers Zach Britton and Kevin Gausman to Norfolk ... Texas went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
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