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HOUSTON – After snapping Houston’s seven-game home win streak Friday at Minute Maid Park, the Orioles can win this series with another victory tonight against the Astros.
The Orioles (66-59) have won their last two and four of five games after the 2-0 win, their 11th shutout coming on a combined four-hitter by Kyle Bradish, Cionel Pérez and Dillon Tate, who got the last out for his third save. Bradish allowed just two singles over eight innings, which was the longest outing by an O’s starter this year. He walked two and fanned six in a 96-pitch outing that included 51 percent sliders.
Bradish is the seventh rookie in O's history to throw eight or more scoreless innings on two or fewer hits on the road and first since Chris Waters on Aug. 5, 2008 at the Los Angeles Angels. Bradish became the eighth rookie in MLB history to do so against the Astros and only the second to do so in Houston since 1962.
The last three O’s starters – Spenser Watkins, Jordan Lyles and Bradish – have all recorded quality starts and allowed three earned runs over 21 innings. While scoring just six runs in winning back-to-back versus the White Sox and Astros, O’s pitchers allowed just two earned runs over 20 innings. The O's rotation has now posted five quality starts in the past 10 games with an ERA of 2.70 in that span. Baltimore's pitching has given up three runs or less seven times the last 11 starts.
Bradish’s outing produced the 30th quality start of the year by Baltimore pitchers and the Orioles are now 20-10 when they get such an outing.
The Orioles won last night and remained 2 ½ games back for the last wild card after the Mariners defeated the Guardians in 11 innings.
Gain ground on two teams ahead of them, with the Blue Jays and Rays losing, but also stay planted in the same spot.
Kyle Bradish tossed eight scoreless innings with only two hits allowed, Dillon Tate struck out Trey Mancini to strand two runners in the ninth, and the Astros fell to 42-19 at home.
The Orioles are seven games above .500 for the first time since May 22, 2017. They haven’t been eight above since May 21.
Cedric Mullins is the designated hitter tonight. Anthony Santander is playing left field, Ryan McKenna is in center and Austin Hays is in right.
HOUSTON – Behind a pitching staff that seems to be finding a higher gear in recent days, the Orioles have pulled off, on back-to-back days, two of their most impressive wins during a year filled with such games.
The latest surprising result was their 2-0 shutout of Houston Friday night in front of 31,035 at Minute Maid Park. The Astros were held to four singles. The same Astros that began the night with the best record in the American League at 81-45 and with a seven-game home win streak. The same team that is 42-18 at home this year and 27-8 in their last 35 at home.
The Orioles (66-59) moved seven games over the .500 mark for the first time since May 22, 2017.
O’s starting pitchers have their first back-to-back outings of seven innings or more all year, and right-hander Kyle Bradish threw an O’s season-high eight innings, allowing two hits on 96 pitches. He did that against one of the best offenses in baseball, and when the coaches checked on him when he was at 85 pitches after seven innings, he told them he wanted to keep going.
“They asked how I felt and I was like, ‘I’m just getting started,'" Bradish said. "Felt really good, velo was still there. Means a lot showcasing my ability against the best team."
