Seattle ? Rodrigo Lopez wasn’t worried.

Not with his career-long losing streak at seven games. Not with him having the AL’s second-highest earned-run average (8.07) and second-most losses (seven). Not even after he hadn’t won in nine starts.

“I was worried three or four starts ago,” the Baltimore Orioles’ opening day starter said. “Now, it was like, what’s the worst that’s going to happen?”

The unsuspecting Seattle Mariners found out.

Lopez allowed two hits in 71â3 dominant innings of the Orioles’ 2-0 victory over the Mariners on Thursday that split the four-game series and renewed the Baltimore ace’s faith in himself.

Seattle had been averaging seven runs per game during a 5-1 homestand. Yet Lopez (2-7) retired 18 consecutive batters from Raul Ibanez’s first-inning single to Richie Sexson’s single with two outs in the seventh. Lopez, who struck out four, ended the longest losing streak of his six-season career.

“We were trying to slow him down, but he got strike one all the time,” Sexson said. “It’s Greg Maddux. Same guy. He hasn’t done that all year – but he did today.”

Gil Meche (4-3) pitched perhaps his best game of his season, just on the wrong day. The inconsistent Meche struck out a season-high 10 – one short of his career high. He walked two and allowed only four hits in seven innings.

But Lopez was better. His medium-speed fastballs and sharp sinkers sent Seattle to its second loss in seven games.

“That’s about as good as I’ve seen him pitch for us. He was outstanding,” Jay Gibbons said.

Gibbons singled home Brian Roberts with the second run in the third inning. Roberts doubled twice and scored both Baltimore runs in his second game since returning from the disabled list because of a strained left groin.

Rangers 8, Athletics 7

Arlington, Texas – Phil Nevin snapped an 0-for-17 slump with a two-out homer in the bottom of the ninth to lead Texas. Rookie second baseman Ian Kinsler came off the disabled list and homered twice as the Rangers overcame a seven-run deficit to hand the Athletics their sixth straight loss. Rod Barajas hit a grand slam, and Mark Teixeira also homered for the Rangers.

Red Sox 4, Devil Rays 1

Boston – Josh Beckett struck out seven in six shutout innings for his fourth consecutive win, and David Ortiz snapped out of a slump with two hits and an RBI.