Astros 5, Orioles 2
HOUSTON -- Designated hitter Evan Gattis capped a four-run rally with a two-run, two-out single in the seventh inning as the Houston Astros rallied for a 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
Having scuffled for most of the night against Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, the Astros (32-20) suddenly caught fire in the seventh, starting with a leadoff double by first baseman Chris Carter. Houston added three more hits against two Baltimore relievers, with Gattis' opposite-field hit to right field coming off right-hander Tommy Hunter.
The Astros loaded the bases against right-hander Brad Brach (3-1) before right fielder George Springer added a run-scoring single to center on a 3-0 pitch and second baseman Jose Altuve chipped in a sacrifice fly.
Jimenez allowed just three hits before Carter chased him with his double. The Houston bullpen did what the Orioles' could not, with right-handers Will Harris (2-0), Pat Neshek and Luke Gregerson combining to retire all 11 batters they faced. Gregerson recorded his 14th save by setting the Orioles (23-27) down in order in the top of the ninth.
Jimenez scattered 10 hits against the Astros last week but was decidedly more effective Monday, establishing his dominance early and relenting only in short bursts.
Before left fielder Preston Tucker slapped a double the opposite way to left field with one out in the fourth inning, Jimenez had yet to allow a base hit. Jimenez surrendered his first run in the fifth when third baseman Luis Valbuena cranked his 11th home run to right field, pulling the Astros even at 1-1.
But Houston gave away a potential run when shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was erased at the plate after a single by Altuve, closing that frame with a pair of runners on base and the score still deadlocked. Baltimore reclaimed its lead immediately thereafter.
Astros left-hander Brett Oberholtzer danced around a pair of baserunners in the third and fourth innings. But, after surrendering an RBI triple to second baseman Ryan Flaherty in the fifth, Oberholtzer allowed three batters to reach in succession with one out in the sixth.
The final batter, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, walloped a double off the right-field wall to score Adam Jones and chase Oberholtzer. Harris entered and snuffed that threat to keep the deficit at 2-1 by retiring both batters he faced with two runners in scoring position.
NOTES: After missing consecutive games for the first time since September 2011, Orioles DH Adam Jones returned to the starting lineup -- but not in his customary center-field position. Jones had been sidelined by a left ankle sprain suffered Thursday while sliding into home plate against the White Sox. ... Astros 2B Jose Altuve leads all American League second basemen in All-Star Game voting (2,020,143) and is aiming to become just the seventh player in club history to earn a fan-elected start. ... Orioles SS J.J. Hardy was held out of the lineup with soreness in his left side, a condition that occurred unexpectedly while he took light swings in advance of early batting practice. Hardy is listed as day-to-day.