The Sports Xchange
Jul 23, 2017
BALTIMORE -- Zach Britton set the American League record for consecutive saves, Adam Jones tied a career-high with four hits and the Baltimore Orioles avoided their first home sweep by the Houston Astros with a 9-7 victory Sunday.
Houston, which has the best record in the American League, lost for just the second time in the past 14 games against the Orioles.
Nori Aoki tied the game 6-6 with his three-run shot off Orioles starter Dylan Bundy in the sixth. Miguel Castro entered for Baltimore and allowed a go-ahead sacrifice fly to Josh Reddick.
Mark Trumbo tied the game 7-7 with a lead-off homer in the seventh off Chris Devenski.
Ruben Tejada and Adam Jones singled in the eighth off Luke Gregerson (2-3) before Manny Machado managed a sacrifice fly to deep center. Jonathan Schoop provided a 9-7 lead with a two-out RBI single.
Mychal Givens (7-0) got the win with a scoreless eighth and Zach Britton picked up his first save since April 14 and sixth of the season, setting the American League record with 55 consecutive saves.
Jose Altuve tied a career high with four hits, including a homer. He also extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games.
The Orioles took a 3-0 lead in the second when Lance McCullers loaded the bases on a single, walk and hit batter. McCullers then hit Hyun Soo Kim for the first run. The second run scored on a double play by Ruben Tejada before Jones had an RBI single.
Altuve tied the game with a three-run homer off Bundy in the third. Bundy allowed seven runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Baltimore retook the lead, 4-3, in the bottom half on an RBI single by Trey Mancini.
Houston had an opportunity to tie the game in the fifth but Altuve was thrown out at home by Tejada on a sharp grounder by Yuli Gurriel. That proved costly as Baltimore added two runs that inning on a sacrifice fly by Chris Davis and RBI double by Mancini that ended McCullers day.
McCullers allowed six runs on nine hits over 42/3 innings. It was also the third straight game McCullers didn't last past the fifth.
NOTES: Houston INF Colin Moran was placed on the 10-day disabled list after he suffered a facial fracture from a deflected inside pitch during Saturday night's game, the team announced. INF Tyler White was recalled from Triple-A Fresno to take Moran's spot. ... Orioles OF Hyun Soo Kim made his first career start as a designated hitter. ... Houston RHP Will Harris (right shoulder bruise) played catch Sunday. The next step is to throw from a slope and then a bullpen session.