Brandon Young couldn’t duplicate the drama.
Young was perfect for 7 2/3 innings in Houston, returned home tonight and allowed a hit and home run among his first four batters. The Astros didn’t let the rookie get on another roll.
Christian Walker’s two-run shot with two outs in the first inning was followed by Carlos Correa’s two-run single in the second. Houston scored three times in the third before Young retired a batter, and the Orioles stayed down in a 7-2 loss before an announced crowd of 18,061 at Camden Yards.
Young was charged with seven runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings and exited after covering first base to retire Jacob Melton on a ground ball to Coby Mayo leading off the sixth. Young came down hard on his left leg, began limping past the bag, and interim manager Tony Mansolino removed him and called for reliever Yaramil Hiraldo.
The club announced that Young had left hamstring discomfort. Depending on the severity of the injury, he could be the starter who steps aside for Kyle Bradish’s return next week.
Dylan Beavers provided a highlight with his first major league home run in his first at-bat here. He ran the count full in the second inning against Jason Alexander and got his barrel on a changeup.
Right fielder Jesús Sánchez didn’t budge.
The Astros didn’t let it matter.
Walker led off the third with a double and scored on Sánchez’s single, and Yainer Díaz followed with a 402-foot homer to left for a 7-1 lead. Now, it was Young’s turn to look away.
On the bright side, Young made it into the sixth to spare the bullpen excessive usage. The injury kept him from going further than 84 pitches, but his ERA had swelled to 6.24.
Correa’s two-run single in the second was preceded by catcher Samuel Basallo’s throwing error on Mauricio Dubón’s attempted steal while Melton drew a walk. Jackson Holliday committed a throwing error on Sánchez’s infield single in the fifth, but Young retired the last four batters.
Sánchez went 5-for-5 to tie his career high in hits.
The Orioles failed to score in the first inning after Holliday and Gunnar Henderson singled. Alexander retired the first two batters in the second, including Basallo on a fly ball in his first home at-bat.
Basallo and Beavers received standing ovations after they were introduced. Beavers brought the crowd to its feet again.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Beavers joined Jeff Fiorentino in 2005 at Camden Yards and Ken Gerhart in 1986 at Memorial Stadium as the only Orioles to homer in their first at-bat in Baltimore.
Colton Cowser, Basallo and Mayo singled with one out in the sixth to load the bases. Left-hander Steven Okert came in to face Beavers, who collected another RBI on a ground ball.
* Former Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel is signing with the Astros and joining the team in Baltimore, according to multiple reports. Kimbrel made one appearance with the Braves and was pitching for Triple-A Round Rock in the Rangers’ organization, where he posted a 3.86 ERA in 24 games and averaged 5.1 and 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
* The Orioles played a video tribute to infielder Ramón Urías before the game. Urías, who was traded at the deadline, stepped out of the dugout and raised his cap to the crowd.
* Double-A Chesapeake’s Nestor German tossed five scoreless innings with three hits, three walks and six strikeouts. Carter Baumler followed with a scoreless sixth in his Double-A debut.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. went 3-for-4 with his 23rd stolen base, and Creed Willems hit his 14th home run.
High-A Aberdeen’s Yeiber Cartaya allowed only one hit in five scoreless innings, walking none and striking out six.
First-round draft pick Ike Irish had an RBI single for Class A Delmarva. He’s batting .333 with an .861 OPS.