Astros top Orioles on Correa's 13th-inning single
HOUSTON -- Tony Kemp smacked a leadoff triple in the 13th inning, and Carlos Correa drove him home with a walk-off single to lift the Houston Astros to a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Kemp, a rookie who made his major league debut on May 17, recorded his first career triple to set the stage for the Astros' win. Right-hander Dylan Bundy (0-1), the Orioles' fifth pitcher of the game, followed with intentional walks to George Springer and Jose Altuve to load the bases for Correa, who snapped an 0-for-15 drought with his hit to center field.
Houston (18-28) rode a magnificent effort from its bullpen to victory. Six Astros relievers combined for 18 strikeouts, a total that matched the club record for K's by relievers set against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 25, 1962.
Michael Feliz (2-1) struck out the side in the 13th for the win.
Springer finished 3-for-4 with two walks while batting leadoff for the second time this season.
Right-hander Chris Tillman gave the Orioles seven strong innings, allowing two runs -- both in the fifth -- on three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
The Astros threatened almost immediately against the Baltimore bullpen, with Springer turning a flare into right field into a hustle double with one out and a 2-2 tie in the eighth.
However, Orioles reliever Darren O'Day recovered to retire Altuve and Correa on hard-hit balls that nonetheless left Springer on third.
The Orioles fashioned their own threat in the ninth against Luke Gregerson, loading the bases with two outs before the Astros closer struck out leadoff hitter Joey Rickard to preserve the tie.
Astros starter Doug Fister had his run of six consecutive quality starts end after he labored into the sixth inning. It wasn't that the Orioles bludgeoned him, and his ability to skirt significant damage enabled Fister to depart a tie game.
The Orioles (26-17) loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning. but Fister retired third baseman Ryan Flaherty on a called third strike to maintain the scoreless tie. That started a modest string of seven consecutive batters set down, a stretch broken in the top of the fifth.
Pedro Alvarez lined a hanging breaking ball into the right field seats leading off the fifth, delivering to the Orioles a 1-0 lead with his third home run. Manny Machado opened the sixth with another homer off Fister, this one above the train tracks in left field to tie the game at 2-2. Three batters later, Fister was gone, needing 106 pitches to complete 5 2/3 innings in which he allowed two runs on three hits and three walks.
NOTES: Astros LHP Dallas Keuchel will get an extra day of rest before he starts Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. The decision to bump Keuchel has more to do with keeping the rest of the rotation on schedule, not his recent struggles. Keuchel is 0-5 with a 7.78 ERA over his last seven starts. ... Baltimore selected the contract of LHP Ashur Tolliver from Double-A Bowie. Tolliver went 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA and two saves with 25 strikeouts in 18 games for the Baysox. His first appearance with the Orioles will mark his major league debut. ... C Erik Kratz cleared waivers and was given his unconditional release by the Astros. Kratz was designated for assignment on May 16. ... The Miami Marlins claimed RHP Asher Wojciechowski off waivers from the Astros. Wojciechowski was designated for assignment by the club on May 17. ... Seeking to jumpstart his offense, Astros manager A.J. Hinch batted 2B Jose Altuve second, the first time this season Altuve didn't hit leadoff. RF George Springer was atop the order.