Baltimore takes lead in American League East with win over Texas

J.J. Hardy broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run seventh-inning homer, lifting the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.

Hardy went deep on Texas starter Nick Martinez (5-5, 3.43 ERA). Jimmy Paredes also homered off Martinez and had an RBI groundout in the bottom of the sixth that tied the game at 2-2.

Wei-Yin Chin (4-4, 2.84 ERA) gave up two runs on four hits in eight innings to get the victory, striking out two and walking one.

Zach Britton struck out the side in the ninth to record his 23rd save for Baltimore (42-36), which has a one-game lead in the American League East over Toronto and New York.