BALTIMORE -- After a record-setting victory in the opener, the Rangers kept right on hitting in the nightcap, although at a decidedly tamer pace. Travis Metcalf drove in four runs and the Rangers used a three-run eighth for a 9-7 victory and a sweep of the Orioles on Wednesday.
In the opener, Texas became the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record in a 30-3 rout of Baltimore.
Texas set an AL record for runs in a doubleheader, surpassing the 36 scored by Detroit in 1937.
"Tonight there were some balls thrown across the plate and we put them in play," Washington said. "Everybody was part of it. It was a total team effort."
The Rangers had 11 hits in the second game, including three by Michael Young. The nightcap, however, will forever be regarded as a postscript to the incredible opener.
Hours after announcing manager Dave Trembley would return for the 2008 season, the Orioles absorbed the most lopsided loss in franchise history and set a team record for hits allowed in a game (29).
"I'd say whatever we threw, they hit it. It's that simple," Trembley said. "They say hitting is contagious, and that certainly was the case in the first game. I've never seen anything like it."
The Rangers had totaled 28 runs in their previous nine games, including two runs on seven hits in their last two.
The Rangers set a team record for runs scored in a doubleheader -- before the second game even started.
In the second game, the Rangers overcame home runs by Jay Payton and Nick Markakis and rallied from a 7-6 deficit against Jim Hoey (1-1).
Joaquin Benoit (6-3) earned the victory with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. C.J. Wilson pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
Notes
- Baltimore's Kevin Millar recorded a hit in each game, extending his run of reaching via hit, walk or hit by pitch to 49 games -- tying Ken Singleton's club record set in 1977.
