Orioles 9, Astros 4
Manny Machado hit his first career grand slam and David Lough added a homer as Baltimore pounded host Houston to split a four-game series.
Wei-Yin Chen (6-2) allowed one run on four hits while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings as the Orioles moved back above .500 at 28-27. Jonathan Schoop added three hits and scored twice while J.J. Hardy recorded a pair of hits for Baltimore.
Scott Feldman (3-3) started for the Astros and was hammered for nine runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings against his former team. Matt Dominguez hit a two-run homer and Chris Carter singled in a run to lead the Houston offense.
Lough put Baltimore on top in the second when he came up with Schoop on first and lined a 2-2 sinker from Feldman into the stands in right. The Orioles made it 3-0 when Machado doubled, stole third and came home on Adam Jones’ sacrifice fly in the third.
The Astros got on the board in the fourth on Carter’s two-out single but Baltimore broke the game open in the sixth after loading the bases with no outs on three straight singles. Lough followed with a single and Nick Hundley delivered a sacrifice fly before Nick Markakis was walked intentionally in front of Machado, who blasted a 2-2 sinker out to left to end Feldman’s afternoon.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Baltimore LF Nelson Cruz, who leads the majors with 20 home runs, left the game in the third after getting hit with a pitch on the left hand. X-rays were negative and he is day-to-day. … Houston optioned LHP Brett Oberholtzer to Triple-A Oklahoma City and recalled RHP Paul Clemens, who tossed two scoreless innings of relief. … The Orioles get Monday off before continuing their 10-game road trip against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday while the Astros will host the Los Angeles Angels beginning Tuesday.