ARLINGTON – Baltimore left-hander Brian Burres admitted "it was still there" for him, the memory of the 30-3 shellacking the Rangers administered to the Orioles on Aug. 22 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Burres was one of four Baltimore pitchers to throw batting practice that day to the Rangers, who set a modern-day record for runs in a game.

So for Burres and the Orioles to turn the page with Tuesday's 8-1 victory, in the Rangers' home opener no less, was healing.

"It makes you feel better," said Burres, who allowed one run while facing the Rangers for the first time since that doomsday last season.

So how did Burres turn it around after facing 11 batters in the 30-3 loss, allowing eight runs on eight hits in a forgettable sixth inning? For one thing, he didn't look at the videotape.

"I usually like to see myself doing a little better than that," Burres said.

What Burres did, Orioles manager Dave Trembley said, was change his approach after going through the Rangers' lineup the first time. Burres threw mostly fastballs in the early innings. Then when he was seeing hitters for the second and third time, he got ahead with breaking balls.

"That was important," Trembley said. "In this ballpark, with this being a big day for their ball club, he did things right."

Burres, who earned the fifth spot in the rotation in spring training, pitched into the seventh inning. He wasn't overpowering, striking out only three, but he was able to scatter seven hits.

"The guy couldn't get an out on us last year," Rangers catcher Gerald Laird said. "Today he pitches a gem. That's baseball."

Two moments stood out. Burres avoided trouble in the second inning when he tagged out Milton Bradley at home after a pitch got away. Then with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of a 4-0 game, Burres dropped down his arm angle, and instead of throwing a fastball, brought a new wrinkle with a slider and struck out David Murphy.

"He got out of a lot of jams," Rangers shortstop Michael Young said. "And he had a lot of support, because they were pretty locked in at the plate."

Burres wasn't out for revenge Tuesday, but he did admit "it definitely felt good" to frustrate the Rangers in their home opener.