BALTIMORE | Cesar Izturis singled in the winning run in the ninth inning and the Baltimore Orioles remained unbeaten under new manager Buck Showalter, defeating the Los Angeles Angels 5-4 Thursday night for a three-game sweep. Since Showalter made his debut Tuesday, Baltimore has won three in a row and scored 20 runs. Before his arrival, the Orioles had lost 14 of 17 and were averaging 2.77 runs per game — second-lowest in the AL. Matt Wieters led off the ninth with a double off Francisco Rodriguez (0-3). After pinch-runner Julio Lugo took third on a bunt by Corey Patterson, the Angels packed the drawn-up infield with six players. Izturis then lined a single up the middle, sparking a wild celebration by the Orioles around first base. Nick Markakis homered and drove in two runs for the Orioles, who earned their first three-game sweep of the Angels since September 1999. Baltimore is 3-0 against Los Angeles this season after going 2-8 last year. Jason Berken (3-2) got the win despite giving up a three-run, game-tying homer to Torii Hunter in the eighth. Los Angeles has lost 11 of 14 and is 3-14 in their last 17 road games. Orioles starter Jake Arrieta allowed two runs and four hits in 7 2-3 innings. He was lifted in the eighth after second baseman Brian Roberts fumbled a potential double-play ball, getting the force at second but leaving runners at the corners with two outs and Baltimore up 4-0. Mike Gonzalez came in and yielded an RBI single to Bobby Abreu. Showalter then summoned Berken, who gave up Hunter’s shot to left. Los Angeles starter Dan Haren gave up four runs and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings. He left with the score 4-0, but avoided his third loss in three starts since coming to the Angels in a July 25 trade with Arizona. The game was scoreless until Markakis led off the sixth inning with his eighth home run, a drive to right on a 1-1 pitch. Adam Jones followed with a two-out double, then scored on a single by Felix Pie. After retiring the first 14 batters and limiting the Angels to one hit through six innings, Arrieta gave up successive singles to Hunter and Hideki Matsui at the start of the seventh. The right-hander then got Alberto Callaspo to hit into a double play and retired Howie Kendrick on a long foul ball to right. Baltimore made it 4-0 in the bottom half when Roberts hit an RBI double and scored on a single by Markakis. NOTES: Six of Markakis’ eight homers have been solo shots. … Haren is winless since June 12.
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