Mussina Does His Part in 7-3 Victory

OAKLAND —  Though Mike Mussina had far from his best stuff, he still managed to uphold his part of the pitching trio that has helped give the Baltimore Orioles the best record in the American League.

Mussina (5-1) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings and B.J. Surhoff had a two-run homer and a two-run double as the Orioles beat the Oakland Athletics, 7-3.

Mussina was pitching one day after Jimmy Key defeated the A’s, and two days after Scott Erickson won at Seattle. Key is 7-0 and Erickson is 6-1.

“It’s nice to have a staff going the way it is,” Mussina said. “But it’s a little more pressure because you don’t want to be the one to give it up.”

Baltimore improved to 25-11, matching the 1970 Orioles for the club’s best record after 36 games.

Surhoff, who has 11 RBIs in his last three games, has two or more hits in eight of his last 13 games.

The Orioles have won three in a row and have not lost a series this season.

NEXT SERIES FOR ANGES

WHO:

Baltimore Orioles

WHERE:

Anaheim Stadium

WHEN:

Today: 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: 7 p.m.