masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgHOUSTON – Nick Markakis led off tonight’s game with a single into center field, making him 21-for-51 (.412) in the first inning this season.

Steve Pearce followed Markakis to the plate and flied to left field.

Pearce is batting second to start a game for only the fourth time in his major league career. Manny Machado is hitting seventh for the 14th time in his career.

Machado hadn’t batted seventh or lower since the end of the 2012 season.

“I’m trying to take advantage of Steve right…HOUSTON – Nick Markakis led off tonight’s game with a single into center field, making him 21-for-51 (.412) in the first inning this season.

Steve Pearce followed Markakis to the plate and flied to left field.

Pearce is batting second to start a game for only the fourth time in his major league career. Manny Machado is hitting seventh for the 14th time in his career.

Machado hadn’t batted seventh or lower since the end of the 2012 season.

“I’m trying to take advantage of Steve right now,” Showalter said. “Now that we’ve talked about it, he probably won’t get a hit for a month.”

It would be my fault. I asked about the lineup during Showalter’s pregame session with the media.

Machado is batting .224/.280/.296/ in 24 games since coming off the disabled list. He’s hit second in 178 major league games.

“I think Manny can take a little blow from up there,” Showalter said. ” He’s fine. I thought about it, when he first came back, starting him down there. He seemed to be in a good place, and he started out real well.

“It’s also kind of nice to have him sitting in the bottom of the order.”

Pearce was a career .231/.301/.347 hitter against right-handers before tonight, but he was batting .340/.377/.580 with three doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs against them this season.

“I think Stevie’s in a good place,” Showalter said. “You can see him. Everybody’s got to hit until they take.”

Update: Ubaldo Jimenez retired the Astros in order on 12 pitches in the first inning, but he threw 25 in the second and fell behind 1-0.

The Astros loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a single, and Jason Castro scored on a wild pitch. Jimenez applied the tag at the plate and argued the call, but it stood after a challenge that lasted 4 minutes, 25 seconds. In other words, it was inconclusive.

The Orioles are 4-for-7 on challenges this season.

Update II: The Orioles tied the game with two outs in the fourth on Nelson Cruz’s single into right field that scored Pearce, who fought the jinx and led off with a double.

Cruz has 49 RBIs, one behind Chris Davis’ club record for the most by the end of May.