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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The book on Albert Belle says he begins to hit in warm weather. He evidently has a knack for crushing the ball in soggy conditions, too.
|  | | For the second time in as many nights, Albert Belle hit a grand slam. |
Belle hit a grand slam for the second straight night and also
had a solo shot as the Baltimore Orioles stretched their winning
streak to five Thursday by defeating the Texas Rangers 10-1.
Texas has lost eight straight, its longest skid since a 10-game
slide in July 1995. David Segui had two hits for the Rangers, who
have dropped six straight -- and 10 of 12 -- on the road.
Belle homered starting the second for a 1-0 lead, hit a
sacrifice fly in the seventh that made it 4-1 and capped a six-run
eighth with his 13th career slam. The six RBI matched a career
high.
One night earlier, Belle homered in the rain. He did it again
this time, connecting off Mark Clark as a light shower drenched the
few thousands fans at Camden Yards who stuck around after a rain
delay of 2 hours, 7 minutes.
"Albert is Albert," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "He's
an RBI monster, a run producer who absolutely legitimizes any
lineup he's in."
Belle has 13 homers, seven in his last 12 games. He has hit in
15 of his last 16 games, going 26-for-61 (.426).
Six pitchers combined on a five-hitter as the Orioles completed
their first three-game sweep of Texas since July 1997.
"This is basically the same club we had in May," said Rangers
manager Johnny Oates, who held a closed-door meeting with his team
after the game. "We all got us into this position and we all have
to get us out of here. Right now, it doesn't matter if we lose 3-2
or 10-1. ... It's time for us to focus together."
The game was interrupted by rain after the third inning with
Baltimore up 2-1. After the delay, Hargrove replaced starter Sidney
Ponson, who allowed one run and two hits.
Chuck McElroy (1-0) pitched two hitless innings, Gabe Molina
worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and Alan Mills,
obtained Tuesday from Los Angeles, pitched a perfect seventh in his
return to the Orioles.
Buddy Groom gave up two hits in the eighth and Mike Trombley
finished.
It was a surprisingly strong showing from a maligned bullpen
that owns a 6.26 ERA with 15 blown saves.
"It's what we envisioned coming into the season," Hargrove
said.
Texas starter Esteban Loaiza (3-5) retired the first six batters
after the delay before Mike Bordick opened the sixth with a single.
Delino DeShields then delivered a perfect hit-and-run single and
B.J. Surhoff doubled in a run that made it 3-1 and chased Loaiza.
Francisco Cordero walked the bases loaded in the seventh before
Belle's fly. Harold Baines snapped a 1-for-26 skid with an RBI
single in the eighth, and DeShields walked with the bases loaded
before Belle homered on a 3-2 count.
Before the rain came, Baltimore took a 2-0 lead in the second.
After Belle's homer, Cal Ripken and Will Clark hit one-out singles
and Baines hit a liner off Loaiza's thigh for a 2-0 lead.
Rusty Greer singled in a run in the third. The Rangers are 2-16
when scoring fewer than four runs.
"We've gotten into a funk and the ball is rolling downhill picking up speed," first baseman Rafael Palmeiro said. "We've got to put a stop to it -- now."
Game notes
Texas 2B Luis Alicea, who hurt his groin in Wednesday's
game, did not start and is day to day. ... Molina, recalled from
the minors Friday for his third stint with Baltimore, made his
first appearance since April 7. ... Lamb made his seventh error at
third base, second-most on the team behind Alicea (eight). ...
Baltimore is 19-10 at home and a major league-worst 10-24 on the
road.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Texas Clubhouse
Baltimore Clubhouse
RECAPS
Chi. White Sox 12
NY Yankees 3
Tampa Bay 2
Anaheim 1
Baltimore 10
Texas 1
Seattle 12
Minnesota 5
Colorado 5
Houston 4
Pittsburgh 2
Atlanta 0
Los Angeles 4
Arizona 0
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