BALTIMORE (AP) -- Mike Mussina is still waiting for the run support he's become accustomed to. But he doesn't have to wait for a win anymore.

	Mussina

"I'm still looking for a 5- or 6-spot out there sometime, maybe a chance to have a less stressful game," Mussina said.

Mussina (1-2), a victim of spotty run support in his first five starts, didn't need much as he allowed only an RBI single to David Segui in the ninth inning.

"I don't care how long you've had success doing what you're doing, there's a period you have to rebuild your confidence," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "You've done it before and you know you can do it again."

Mussina walked one and struck out six, winning for the first time since beating the New York Yankees on Sept. 30.

"He's not going to go 0-for-April," Hargrove said.

Mussina got Mike Lamb to fly out with the bases loaded to end the game and needed 40 of his 138 pitches to escape the ninth inning.

When right fielder Jeff Conine squeezed Lamb's pop-up for the final out, Mussina bowed his head and rubbed his forehead.

"It was probably half exhaustion and half relief. ... It was just a tough inning," Mussina said.

Ripken had a run-scoring double in the second inning and a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Ripken has 1,586 RBI for his career, moving him past Harmon Killebrew and Rogers Hornsby and into 26th place all-time.

The Orioles have not lost at Camden Yards since dropping their season opener against Cleveland on April 3. Texas has lost 10 of 12.

"Three runs beat us today," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "You'll lead the league if you give up three runs a day."

Mussina retired the first nine Rangers and faced the minimum 12 batters through four innings. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the second on Ripken's RBI double down the right-field line.

The Orioles loaded the bases in the sixth against Darren Oliver (0-2) on a double by Delino DeShields, an intentional walk to Belle and a hit batsman. Ripken made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to left.

In the seventh, Charles Johnson led off with a single to left. One out later, Brady Anderson doubled off the wall in right-center, scoring Johnson for a a 3-0 lead.

Oliver dropped his second consecutive game after three straight no-decisions. He allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

"When you're not winning, it's not fun," Oliver said. "If we can find a groove and get back to winning some games, it will be."

Game notes
Batting practice for both teams was canceled Saturday so that 6,000 Little Leaguers could parade around the warning track in a pregame ceremony. ... Ripken's RBI double in the second gave him 3,011 hits, moving him into 21st place all-time. ... Texas' Rafael Palmeiro, who didn't start because of a tight left hamstring, is 4-for-27 lifetime against Mussina. ... Orioles 1B Will Clark stole second in the fifth, his third steal of the year. That's the most he's had since five swipes in 1994. ... The Orioles had their second sellout of the season and the crowd of 48,230 was the largest of the year.