Baltimore @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 5, 2013 ) Baltimore 7, Houston 11

The Houston Astros will try to make it eight wins in their last nine contests when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Houston, which won six straight on the road prior to their series-opening loss to Baltimore, beat the Orioles at their own game with six home runs in Wednesday's 11-7 victory. Baltimore, which went deep twice and leads the major leagues with 84, lost for only the fourth time in its last 12 games.

Houston's Bud Norris is 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA in seven home outings and has recorded three straight quality starts overall. He will oppose Baltimore's Miguel Gonzalez, who hasn't won since April 23 - a span of five turns. The Orioles will again be without outfielder Nick Markakis, who missed Wednesday's game to attend his grandmother’s funeral.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Baltimore), Comcast SportsNet Houston

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (2-2, 4.33 ERA) vs. Astros RH Bud Norris (5-4, 3.39)

Gonzalez yielded five runs and seven hits in six innings against Detroit on Friday before Baltimore rallied for a 7-5 victory. The 29-year-old Mexican, who was 9-4 in his rookie season of 2012, recorded three quality starts in his four outings before his five-turn winless streak. Gonzalez, who has yielded 52 hits, walked 20 and struck out 40 in 54 innings. He has never faced the Astros, but Carlos Pena is 2-for-6 against him.

Norris allowed four hits in six innings in Houston's 2-0 road victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. He has yielded two runs in 19 frames over his last three starts. The 28-year-old California native is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA, 2.20 WHIP and .373 batting average against in three-day outings, dropping his career record to 7-14 in such games. Norris has never faced the Orioles, but J.J. Hardy and Nate McLouth are a combined 1-for-11 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Orioles have hit 31 home runs in their last 15 games. They also have recorded at least two extra-base hits in 33 straight games - the longest streak in the majors.

2. Houston hit a team-record seven home runs in a 14-4 victory over the Cubs in Chicago on Sept. 9, 2000.

3. Baltimore had its seven-game winning streak against Houston snapped. The teams last met prior to this series in 2008.

PREDICTION: Astros 3, Orioles 2