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Orioles' Guthrie continues streak

By David Ginsburg ASSOCIATED PRESS | Saturday, August 9, 2008

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BALTIMORE | Now that Jeremy Guthrie has a winning record, Baltimore Orioles manager Dave Trembley said he believes the right-hander deserves to be considered one of the best starters in the American League.

Guthrie allowed one run in seven innings to win his third straight start, Kevin Millar homered twice and the Baltimore Orioles cruised past the Texas Rangers, 9-1 Friday night.

Guthrie (9-8) gave up five hits, walked one and had four strikeouts — including All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton twice. Over his last three starts, Guthrie is 3-0 with a 1.21 ERA.

He lost his first three decisions and was 3-7 on June 12, but now Guthrie ranks among the league leaders in starts (25), innings (163) and ERA (3.26).

“I think he's in a position now where his due is coming,” Trembley said. “The guy's getting recognized as a legitimate, top-of-the-rotation guy for any team in the big leagues. I'm glad a lot of other people are starting to recognize what he's all about. We're very, very fortunate to have him.”

Guthrie insisted that finally eclipsing the .500 mark is really no big deal.

“I don't feel any different with my record today than I did a month ago,” he said. “I really feel that, for the most part, when I've been on the mound our team has been in the game. That's the most important part.”

Guthrie's bid for a second straight complete game was thwarted by a high pitch count (115). Jamie Walker worked a perfect eighth and Jim Johnson gave up a hit in the ninth.

Brian Roberts, Juan Castro and Ramon Hernandez each had two RBI for the Orioles, who have won seven of 11. Aubrey Huff went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 16 games, one short of his career high.

Millar hit a two-run homer in the third inning and a solo shot in the fifth. It was his third multihomer game of the season, and his 18 home runs is one more than he had all last year.