BALTIMORE (Interstat) — The Texas Rangers capitalized on early opportunities and rode a strong start from Jack Leiter to a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, moving above .500 for the first time this young season.

A crowd of 11,209 watched the Rangers (3-1) strike for a run in the first inning and three more in the second against Orioles starter Chris Bassitt, providing Leiter with a cushion he would not relinquish. Baltimore (2-2) managed just two runs on seven hits, both driven in by Gunnar Henderson, but could not overcome the early deficit.

The most critical juncture of the game came in the top of the second inning, immediately after Henderson’s first-inning solo home run had cut the Texas lead to 1-0. The Rangers’ response was swift and decisive, effectively putting the game out of reach early. Evan Carter led off with a double and Kyle Higashioka worked a walk. Brandon Nimmo then delivered an RBI single to score Carter. After a lineout moved Higashioka to third, Corey Seager walked to load the bases. Jake Burger followed with a sharp single to right, plating Higashioka. Joc Pederson capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Nimmo to make it 4-1. That three-run outburst sapped the momentum from Henderson’s homer and placed the Orioles in a hole they spent the rest of the evening trying to escape.

Leiter, earning his first win of the season, was sharp over five innings of work. He allowed two runs on five hits, striking out six and walking one. The only significant damage against him came via Henderson, who homered in the first and added an RBI single in the fifth inning that scored Colton Cowser to trim the Texas lead to 4-2. Leiter limited the threat in the fifth, however, striking out Pete Alonso with two runners on to end the inning and preserve the two-run advantage.

Texas opened the scoring in the first inning without a hard-hit ball. Nimmo and Wyatt Langford led off with singles, with Langford’s hit upheld after a Rangers challenge overturned an out call at first. After a groundout advanced both runners, Jake Burger reached on a fielder’s choice to the pitcher Bassitt, scoring Nimmo. Burger then advanced to second on a throwing error by Bassitt, but the Orioles’ starter limited the damage by striking out Pederson and getting Josh Jung to ground out.

Bassitt took the loss for Baltimore, falling to 0-1. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, surrendering four earned runs on six hits and three walks, striking out three. The Rangers’ nine hits were spread throughout the lineup, with Nimmo, Burger, and Carter each collecting two. Burger added a double in the ninth and later scored on Josh Smith’s RBI single to provide the final 5-2 margin.

The Orioles’ bullpen provided a bright spot, with four relievers combining for 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Rico Garcia and Dietrich Enns were particularly effective, each tossing scoreless frames with Enns striking out four of the five batters he faced over 1 2/3 innings. Tyler Wells allowed the ninth-inning run.

After Leiter departed, the Texas bullpen shut the door. Jakob Junis worked two perfect innings in the sixth and seventh. In the eighth, the Orioles mounted their last serious threat against reliever José Leclerc. Taylor Ward led off with a single and Alonso followed with another one-out single to put runners on first and second. Leclerc escaped by getting Adley Rutschman to line out to center and inducing an inning-ending forceout from Tyler O’Neill.

Tyler Alexander worked a perfect ninth inning, striking out two, to record his second save of the season.

Henderson was the lone consistent offensive threat for Baltimore, finishing 2 for 4 with the home run and both RBIs. The rest of the Orioles’ lineup combined for just five hits and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

The victory continued a positive start for Texas, which has won three straight after a season-opening loss in Philadelphia. Baltimore sees its two-game win streak snapped and will look to even the series Tuesday night.

The game’s final score of 7 total runs went under the pregame over/under line of 9. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 3-2 Texas victory, and its ELO system gave the Rangers a 50.7% probability to win, though Baltimore had been installed as a 1.5-run favorite on the betting spread.

Texas continues its three-game set in Baltimore on Tuesday before returning home to face the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. The Orioles host the Rangers again Wednesday before embarking on a six-game road trip to Pittsburgh and Chicago.