Many times in sports, it is who you play and when you play them that matters. The Houston Astros (47-54) found that out the hard way as they played host to the Baltimore Orioles for the three game weekend series following the MLB All-Star break. Houston saw their losing streak extend to four games with the Orioles 5-2 win on Sunday. Baltimore swept the Astros while extending their season’s longest winning streak to seven games.
The problem encountered by the Astros was an Orioles team with a pitching staff that is riding a hot streak. Houston saw a pair of quality starts thrown against them and starters that allowed a total of four runs in the series. The bullpen did not want to be left out either as relievers covered 12.0 innings in the series while limiting the Astros to two runs.
Although, in my opinion, it is too soon to focus on this as the season has 62 games left to be played, the O’s now have just two teams (Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox) to jump to become a wild card team. Yes, playoff positioning will possibly influence decisions made by President of Baseball Operations/General Manager Mike Elias, but then again, there is no telling what he may do.
In the spotlight for the Orioles was Sunday’s starter Brandon Young (8-2). Returning to the place of his near no-hitter, Young navigated 27 batters over 7.0 innings with 95 pitches (62 K’s) resulting in 1 Houston run allowed on 5 hits with a walk and 7 strikeouts. He worked out of a two runnuers on with no outs situation in the second inning. Back to back one out doubles in the third resulted in Houston’s lone run off of Young. The fourth and fifth innings were clean one for Young and he allowed one base runner in both the sixth and seventh innings.
Rico Garcia surrendered a Jose Altuve homerun in the eighth and with a clean ninth, Grant Wolfram earned his first save of the season.
The Orioles scored a pair of runs in their half of the third inning. Jackson Holliday (0 for 3, R, BB) walked to open the inning, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on a Gunnar Henderson (1 for 4, R, RBI, SB, HBP) single. Henderson advanced to third on a Dylan Beavers‘ ( 2 for 4, 2B) single, and stole home on a double steal with Pete Alonso (0 for 3, R, BB, SB, HBP).
Two more runs scored in the fifth when Leody Taveras (1 for 4, 2 RBI, BB) hit a 2-RBI single with the bases loaded and two outs.
Coby Mayo (2 for 4, R, RBI) capped off the scoring with an oppo-taco in the sixth inning, his 13th homerun of the season. He sent a 91.5 mph 4-seam fastball 384 ft. to right center field.
Limited to just the aforementioned six hits, the Orioles were 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position while leaving 10 runners stranded on base.
An issue to keep an eye on is the Orioles’ injuries at catcher. Sam Huff had his contract selected today as the third catcher and he was forced to enter today’s game in the second inning after Samuel Basallo exited with right shoulder discomfort. Adley Rutschman‘s status is uncertain as well. He was held out of today’s game with what is being described as left wrist discomfort.
Up next is a seven game winning streak facing off against a thirteen game winning streak. Will the Orioles prevail?
2026 Record: 49-51
The Orioles are 5.0 games better than they were after 100 games in 2025 (44-56)
Next Game: Mon. 7/20 @ 7:10 pm @ Boston Red Sox
