ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Rangers aren't used to being in low-scoring games -- they produce runs in bunches behind one of the league's most potent offenses.

But Saturday night, the Rangers got seven strong innings from starter Esteban Loaiza and beat Mike Mussina and the slumping Baltimore Orioles 2-1 for their fifth straight victory.

The win was the Rangers' first when scoring two runs or fewer since Aug. 11, 1998.

	Loaiza

Slugfests are their specialty, however. Before Saturday night's win, the Rangers were 0-14 this season when scoring five or less runs.

"When you're facing a pitcher like Mussina, that's what you have to do," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "It was a good night for Loaiza to pitch that type of game. You're not going to beat him (Mussina) 7-6, you're going to beat him 2-1."

Loaiza (2-2) allowed one run and six hits before walking Brady Anderson leading off the eighth. Mike Venafro relieved and finished the inning.

Loaiza's best pitch was a changeup he was able to keep down consistently. Loaiza had been winless in four previous starts and allowed 13 runs in his last two starts.

"I kept the ball lower than the last couple of starts," Loaiza said. "I was able to throw strikes and keep the ball down. I want to go out there and put zeros on the board."

John Wetteland pitched the ninth for his ninth save and 305th of his career, moving him past Jeff Montgomery into sole possession of ninth place overall.

Texas got the game's final out when catcher Ivan Rodriguez threw out pinch-runner Rich Amaral at second on a steal attempt.

The Rangers also got a big defensive play from rookie center fielder Ruben Mateo, who threw out B.J. Surhoff at the plate when Surhoff attempted to score from second on a fourth-inning single.

"It helped out a lot," Loaiza said. "I didn't think he was going to throw it in, but it was a really good throw. It saved me from a big inning."

Chad Curtis hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Loaiza and the Texas bullpen made it stand.

The Rangers have won eight of 10. Baltimore has lost 14 of 16 and is 6-19 since April 22.

Mussina (1-6), off to the worst start of his career, retired the first 10 batters before Curtis lined a single up the middle in the fourth.

Mussina allowed six hits, struck out four and didn't issue a walk in his second complete game of the season, his best start since late April.

"He threw exceptionally well," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "He was as good as we've seen him all year. We just didn't score any runs and we picked the wrong night to do that."

Jason McDonald led off the Texas sixth with a double and Luis Alicea sent him to third with a bunt single. Curtis hit a fly ball to shallow right field, and the speedy McDonald beat Albert Belle's throw to the plate standing up.

"We caught a break tonight," Oates said. "We had a 180-foot sacrifice fly because we had a guy who can fly at third base."

Rafael Palmeiro hit his 11th homer in the fifth for the Rangers.

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Cal Ripken's single, giving him 1,596 career RBI. He had been tied with George Brett, Mike Schmidt and Harold Baines for 22nd place on the career list.

Game notes
Orioles first baseman Will Clark was out of the starting lineup because of a sore left leg. Clark was activated from the 15-day DL Thursday (strained left hamstring). Clark was available to pinch hit. ... Mussina has allowed 15 homers this season. ... For his career against Baltimore, Palmeiro has 13 homers and 50 RBI. ... Mussina's lone victory came over the Rangers on April 29, a 3-1 complete game. ... The crowd of 48,164 was the second-largest regular season gate at The Ballpark in Arlington.