FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 17 (UPI) -- Marty Cordova doubled twice and drove home two runs Sunday and Brian Roberts had two hits and an RBI as the Baltimore Orioles whipped the Texas Rangers, 8-1.
Mike Bordick tripled and Jeff Conine hit a double. Both veterans also scored a run as the Orioles recorded 10 hits.
After Texas' Jason Romano led off the game with a home run, Baltimore starter Scott Erickson (2-0) scattered seven more hits in six innings. The righthander struck out six and walked one.
Hideki Irabu (3-1) gave up two runs in his five innings of work. The Japanese hurler struck out one and walked two before relievers Steve Woodard and Chris Michalak combined to yield six runs -- three earned -- in three innings.
Rafael Palmeiro, Mike Lamb and Ed Sprague registered two hits apiece for the Rangers, who left seven men on base.
