Kjerstad drives in 3, Orioles hit 4 homers, Burnes cruises in 11-2 win over Rangers

BALTIMORE—The last time the Orioles saw the Texas Rangers, they were watching the Rangers celebrate a three-game sweep in the American League Division Series.

The Rangers went on to win the World Series, but on Thursday night, it was the Orioles who looked like defending world champions, pounding out an 11-2 win over the Rangers before 29,479 at Camden Yards.

It was the Orioles’ second straight win after a season-long, five-game skid, and they conclude the mathematical first half of the season with a 51-30 record. Last season, they were 48-33 at the halfway point on their way to 101 wins.

Six Orioles — catcher Adley Rutschman, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, third baseman Jordan Westburg and designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn — were named finalists in American League All-Star voting, but the offense was largely provided by others.

While Westburg had a two-run double in the first and Mountcastle had a sacrifice fly in the third, it was Heston Kjerstad, promoted on Monday from Triple-A Norfolk, who had three RBIs.

Kjerstad singled in the first and hit a two-run home run, his first of the season, against Texas starter Jon Gray (3-4). Cedric Mullins hit his second home run in as many days, his ninth, a two-run home run in the fourth. Gray was charged with eight runs in five innings.

Rutschman hit his 15^th home run in the seventh against Jonathan Hernandez and had a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Colton Cowser hit his 11^th in the eighth off Brock Burke.

Corbin Burnes (9-3) rebounded from Saturday’s loss at Houston. He allowed a home run to Adolis Garcia in the fourth inning and equaled his career high with nine hits in seven innings. Besides Garcia’s homer, the other eight hits were singles. Burnes struck out five and walked none.

The first three Texas (37-44) batters of the game had singles against Burnes, but leadoff hitter Marcus Semien was out trying to steal second.

Notes: The Orioles have hit 57 homers in June, setting a club record for most home runs in June. … Mullins had his first three-hit game of the season.