Clutch pitching, Adam Jones' clutch homer lead O's past Houston (Mancini to Bowie)

For two straight innings, Orioles pitchers worked out of huge jams to keep the game tied. Adam Jones didn't need a runner on base to break that tie.

Jones ended a 20-game and 83 at-bat homerless stretch with a solo shot to left in the top of the eighth to snap a 2-2 tie and send the Orioles to a 3-2 win over Houston this afternoon.

The Orioles avoided a four-game sweep, ended a five-game losing streak and improved to 24-29 as they get set for a weekend series in Cleveland.

Jones connected on a 1-0 slider from Chad Qualls for his seventh homer and first since May 11. He had hit just one homer over his previous 38 games.

In the last of the sixth, Wei-Yin Chen pitched out of a first-and-third, no-outs jam. In the seventh, Darren O'Day pitched out of bases-loaded, one-out jam as Houston went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in the two innings.

The Orioles went to closer Zach Britton for his first career five-out save today, and he got it for his 14th save in 15 chances on the year. He retired all five batters on 17 pitches with three strikeouts.

Through six innings the game was tied 2-2. The Orioles took the lead in the top of the first. Manny Machado led off with an infield, stole his eighth base in nine tries and scored on a two-out Chris Davis single.

Houston tied it in the third on a leadoff homer from Hank Conger, the Astros' seventh homer of the series. They went ahead 2-1 an inning later on Luis Valbuena's sac fly.

Valbuena batted with runners on second and third and one out, and hit a fly ball to right. Evan Gattis tagged at third, but appeared to stop running home until he saw Delmon Young's throw way up the third base line. He then scored for a 2-1 lead.

The O's tied it 2-2 in the sixth. Jones singled with one out and scored on a Steve Pearce two-out single.

Houston starter Dallas Keuchel, who began the day second in the American League in ERA, gave up two runs over six innings in a no-decison. In two starts this year versus the Orioles, he has an ERA of 3.86, allowing six runs over 14 innings.

O's starter Wei-Yin Chen went 6 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and two runs, and did not factor in the decision. Chen has an ERA of 2.57 in five road starts.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was ejected after the top of the second by home plate umpire Brian Gorman. He argued a third-strike call on Ryan Flaherty.

The Orioles snapped a five-game road losing streak, winning for just the third time in 13 road games. They are 9-17 on the road.

On Friday night in Cleveland, Chris Tillman (2-7, 5.94 ERA) faces right-hander Shaun Marcum (2-0, 5.49 ERA).

On the farm: First baseman Trey Mancini was promoted by the Orioles from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie today. The 23-year-old Mancini is batting .314 with the Keys with eight homers and 32 RBIs. He hit .362 in May.

An eighth-round pick in 2013 out of Notre Dame, Mancini leads the Carolina League in hits (65), extra-base hits (25), total bases (109) and slugging percentage (.527), is second in batting average and is tied for second in home runs and RBIs.

Double-A Bowie released outfielder Michael Burgess. In other moves on the farm, first baseman Logan Uxa went from Single-A Delmarva to Frederick, and Delmarva activated infielder Jared Breen. Frederick activated outfielder Anthony Hewitt from the seven-day disabled list.