masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgHOUSTON – Ubaldo Jimenez had two clean innings for the Orioles tonight at Minute Maid Park – the first and the sixth.

He finished the way he started, leaving the game with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh.

Jimenez didn’t work past the fifth in his last two starts, but he retired the Astros in order in the sixth and left with his pitch count at 112 – six short of his season high.

Jimenez allowed one run and three hits in six innings, with three walks eight strikeouts, a wild…HOUSTON – Ubaldo Jimenez had two clean innings for the Orioles tonight at Minute Maid Park – the first and the sixth.

He finished the way he started, leaving the game with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh.

Jimenez didn’t work past the fifth in his last two starts, but he retired the Astros in order in the sixth and left with his pitch count at 112 – six short of his season high.

Jimenez allowed one run and three hits in six innings, with three walks eight strikeouts, a wild pitch and a hit batter. He came within two strikeouts of matching his season high.

Preston Guilmet will work the seventh.

The Orioles’ rotation has produced only 18 quality starts and just three in the last 11 games.

The Astros put the leadoff hitter on base in three innings, but they’re 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and have stranded seven.

Astros starter Brad Peacock walked 30 batters in 45 innings before tonight. He didn’t walk an Oriole and struck out eight.

Peacock allowed six hits in six innings. Josh Fields replaced him in the seventh and stranded Ryan Flaherty after a one-out single.

Update: The Astros are 1-for-13 with RISP, but the hit is a two-run homer by rookie George Springer in the seventh inning that broke a 1-1 tie.

Jose Altuve singled and stole second before Springer lined a slider from Guilmet into the left field seats. Guilmet hadn’t allowed a run or hit in six innings with the Orioles before tonight.

Springer has seven homers in seven games.

Update II: Game over. The Orioles lose to the Astros 3-1 before 22,884 at Minute Maid Park.

The Orioles have dropped three in a row and fall to .500 for the first time since they were 12-12 on April 27.

Guilmet gets his first major league decision, and it’s a loss.

The Orioles were held to one run or fewer for the eighth time this season.