BALTIMORE -- After Erik Bedard walked two batters in the first inning on Wednesday, it looked like a long afternoon was in store for him.

But Bedard danced around trouble in the first, second and fifth innings, picking up his third straight victory. The Orioles beat the Phillies, 7-4, in the first game of a day-night doubleheader, sending Philadelphia to its sixth straight loss.

Bedard threw seven scoreless innings, his second straight game without allowing a run. He hasn't given up a run since June 16, a streak of 16 innings. Over his last three starts, all against National League East opponents, Bedard is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

"I thought in the first inning, he was not quite as sharp," manager Sam Perlozzo said. "But he came back after that, really settled down and got his pitches over."

Bedard struck out seven, one in each inning, while giving up five hits. He walked two and hit another batter, but he worked around those mistakes.

Bedard has worked with pitching coach Leo Mazzone to develop a circle changeup, which has helped the lefty because hitters can no longer wait for either his fastball or curveball.

"Now he's throwing it for a strike -- that's the big difference," catcher Ramon Hernandez said of Bedard's changeup. "He's hitting the spot more consistently."

Baltimore's offense backed Bedard, scoring its most runs since June 10. Hernandez hit a two-run homer in the third to put the Orioles ahead, 4-0.

Brian Roberts homered in the following inning, his first of the season. It was the first home run for Roberts since Aug. 30 of last season, when he hit a career-high 18 long balls.

Kurt Birkins relieved Bedard and surrendered a pair of homers in the eighth, cutting the O's lead to three runs.