Late Run Gives Rangers Win

Pinch-hitter Frank Catalanotto hit a two-out RBI single in the eighth as the Texas Rangers beat Baltimore 6-5 on Sunday night to extend their winning streak to a season-high six games.

Ruben Mateo drew a leadoff walk off Buddy Groom (2-2) and advanced to second on Mike Lamb's sacrifice. Catalanotto, hitting for Jason McDonald, singled to right off Mike Trombley to cap Texas' comeback from a 5-0 deficit.

Mike Venafro (1-0) pitched 2-3 of an inning for the victory and John Wetteland pitched the ninth for his 10th save.

Orioles starter Scott Erickson took a shutout into the sixth before Rafael Palmeiro's one-out solo homer made it 5-1. After Mateo's two-out single, Lamb hit a two-run homer to make it 5-3.

Texas knocked out Erickson in the seventh, loading the bases on two walks and a single. Ivan Rodriguez had a sacrifice fly off reliever Al Reyes, and Palmeiro tied it with an RBI groundout against Buddy Groom.

Erickson allowed five runs and six hits over six innings. He struck out two and walked six in his fourth start since having surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow on March 3.

Baltimore scored three runs in the first off Darren Oliver.

Mike Bordick opened the scoring with a one-out homer, his ninth. After singles by Delino DeShields and Albert Belle, Jeff Conine had an RBI single to right. Right fielder Jason McDonald overthrew third base for an error, allowing Belle to score.

Baltimore made it 4-0 in the fourth on Cal Ripken's double. Will Clark's fifth-inning single extended the Orioles' lead to 5-0 and chased Oliver.

Oliver allowed five runs and nine hits over 4 2-3 innings. He struck out three and walked three.

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