Orioles hat-trick is history

Baltimore Orioles became only the fourth team to open a Major League game with three straight home runs as they beat the Texas Rangers 6-5.

Ryan Flaherty's first career homer started things off for the the American League East leaders, with JJ Hardy and Nick Markakis following suit in the bottom of the first inning as the Orioles made American League history - the three previous teams to achieve the feat having come from the National League.

Texas hit back in the second game to split the Camden Yards double header, though, Josh Hamilton smashing his major league-leading 15th homer as the Rangers triumphed 7-3.

Elsewhere, Cleveland were 8-3 winners against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Home runs from Jack Hannahan and Jason Kipnis got the Indians off to a flying start and they never looked back.

CC Sabathia struck out 10 behind two homers as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees 5-3, Henderson Alvarez threw seven solid innings to help the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 and Miguel Cabrera began an eight-run third inning for Detroit with an RBI double as the Tigers overcame the Oakland Athletics 10-6.

In the National League, Washington snapped a three-game skid with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Stephen Strasburg striking out a season-high 13 over six innings for the Nationals.