Astros crush Orioles for second straight game
BALTIMORE -- Houston's Mike Fiers shut down the Baltimore Orioles' dominant lineup, while rookie Alex Bregman, George Springer and Jason Castro each homered, leading the Astros to a 12-2 victory Saturday night.
Houston, which mustered 14 hits, can take the four-game series with a victory Sunday. The fading Orioles dropped four of five and have gone 9-15 over their past 24 games.
Fiers (9-6) put together an effective outing after struggling over his past two starts when he allowed nine runs, including five homers, over 9 2/3 innings. Staked with a big lead, he was much better against Baltimore and gave up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and a walk over a season-tying high seven innings.
The Orioles' Chris Davis hit his fifth home run in the past four games and has 29 on the season. It was the second time this season that Davis has homered in at least four consecutive games.
Baltimore right-hander Chris Tillman (15-5) made the start after being pushed back earlier in the week because of right shoulder discomfort. He never appeared comfortable on the mound and struggled early. Tillman was charged with six runs on six hits with five walks in two innings.
Steve Pearce's first homer since returning to the team at the trade deadline provided Baltimore's second run in the eighth. Pearce has 11 home runs on the season.
The Orioles were forced to use infielder Ryan Flaherty as a pitcher in the ninth and he gave up the home run to Castro and an RBI double to Bregman that gave the Astros a 12-2 lead.
The Orioles' pitchers walked a season-high 10 batters.
Bregman gave the Astros an early lead when he launched a two-run homer on a fastball by Tillman in the first. The highly touted rookie has been impressive throughout the series, recording a season-high three hits the previous night.
Houston added to the lead in second when Teoscar Hernandez earned a leadoff walk and Castro followed with an RBI double. Castro is 4 for 13 lifetime against Tillman with three doubles and a homer. A swinging bunt single down the third base line by Jose Altuve later that inning provided a 4-0 lead.
Tilman's night ended in the third when he hit Evan Gattis and walked three straight batters to give the Astros a 5-0 lead. Odrisamer Despaigne entered and got Tony Kemp to hit into a double play, but it scored A.J. Reed with Houston's sixth run.
The Orioles finally got on the board with the solo homer by Davis in the fourth. Springer answered an inning later with a two-run shot that pushed the lead to 8-1. Springer has 25 home runs this season.
NOTES: Orioles C Matt Wieters was placed on paternity leave Saturday. He has the option of being away for a maximum of three days. In a corresponding move, C Francisco Pena was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to serve as the backup to Caleb Joseph. In nine games with Baltimore earlier this season, Pena went 7-for-32. ... Houston 3B Luis Valbuena (strained right hamstring) had a setback while working out at Camden Yards and was sent back to Houston to be re-evaluated by team doctors. The plan had been for Valbuena to begin a rehab assignment during the Astros current seven-game road trip. ... RHP Odrisamer Despaigne was recalled by Baltimore from Triple-A Norfolk after RHP Tyler Wilson was sent down to the Tides. Despaigne is 1-7 with a 3.48 ERA in 15 starts with Norfolk. He is 0-2 with a 4.81 ERA in 15 relief appearances with Baltimore this season.