Keuchel was solid through eight innings, Yulieski Gurriel got a hit in his major league debut and the Astros beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 in a rain-delayed victory Sunday. But Houston continued to fight, blasting four home runs of their in the game on the way to a 15-8 win.
Advertisement
The starting pitcher’s health and consistency are crucial for an Orioles playoff berth. The next batter, Carlos Correa, lined a two-run double off the glove of right fielder Chris Davis to make it 4-1.
On his bobblehead night, Chris Davis did trebuchet a majestic monster oppo taco over the Orioles bullpen for a solo shot in the 4th, but the dream of another comeback was ill-fated.
McHugh’s final line read seven runs on nine hits over three innings. “I felt good. Just couldn’t command the baseball”.
Manager Buck Showalter said Tillman was “rusty”, and would have been forthcoming if the shoulder bothered him before his start.
The Orioles went 12-22 against the AL West this season.
How bad was it?
This was the first time Flaherty stepped on the mound since high school. “Wasn’t very good then and still not”.
“It’s pretty tough to cover that many runs the last two nights”, Showalter said. That’s a pretty good lineup to go out there and wing it against.
“We’ve had a lot of guys putting together quality at-bats, going up there trying to hit the ball hard, ” Bregman said.
Bregman got the rout started with a two-run homer in the first inning.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by A.J. Reed.
It might get even better on Sunday.
Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch has already described Yulieski Gurriel as an global star.
Both of Houston’s ninth-inning runs came off Orioles utility infielder Ryan Flaherty, who made his first career pitching appearance. The right-hander went seven innings, allowing one run and five hits to lower his ERA on the road from 6.27 to 5.71.
The salacious Donnie Hart entered the 6th inning with runners on the corners with no outs, and did well to limit the Astros run of amok. Every starter scored at least one run.
NOTES: The Orioles called up RHP Parker Bridwell from Triple-A Norfolk before the game after sending RHP Odrisamer Despaigne back to Norfolk after Saturday night’s game.
Astros third baseman Luis Valbuena could be lost for the season after experiencing a setback in his quest to return from a right leg injury. “It’s going to threaten his season, just based on where we are, ” Hinch said. OF Jake Marisnick missed a second straight game with a sore groin.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to get my first hit that fast”, Gurriel said.
Orioles: Orioles C Matt Wieters was placed on the paternity leave list and will likely be out through at least Sunday.
Advertisement
Tillman started the 3rd inning, but completed his meltdown by plunking Evan Gattis with the first pitch, with succeeding walks to AJ Reed, Tesocar Hernandez and lastly Jason Castro, as Tilly exited with the bases still loaded and the Orioles down 5-0.
