Orioles Slam Their Way Past Houston Astros 7-5

Bryan Abreu has been one of the most trusted relievers for the Houston Astros this season. Friday night, though, was not one of his best outings. Abreu gave up a grand slam to Baltimore slugger Anthony Santander, helping the Baltimore Orioles rally past the Astros 7-5.

Santander’s blast off Abreu (2-2) came on a chest-high fastball in the bottom of the eighth inning. Abreu obviously didn’t get the pitch where he wanted it to be and Santander made him pay. Yet what took place ahead of Santander’s at-bat set the scene for the Orioles’ comeback.

Houston Astros Take Rare Road Loss

Colton Cowser and Adley Rutschman posted singles. Then Abreu coaxed a comebacker to the mound, setting up a potential double play. But Abreu threw to third base trying to get Cowser out. His throw was late and loaded up the bases. Santander smashed his 38th homer this season and second grand slam on the year. Baltimore’s lineup is filled with a bunch of sluggers. At the same time, they can fall prey to striking out, too.

Not on Friday night, though.

GO-AHEAD GRAND SLAM
BIRDLAND IS BUMPIN’ THAT

(MLB x @CoronaUSA) pic.twitter.com/Qcj4HLhJ51

— MLB (@MLB) August 24, 2024

Ramon Urias had an RBI triple in the eighth, too, making it 7-5 Baltimore.

It’s also worth noting the Astros led 5-2 entering the Orioles’ half of the eighth. The loss by the Houston Astros ended their nine-game road winning streak. After the game, Astros manager Joe Espada offered his perspective on Abreu’s quick decision that didn’t work out.

“The route you want him to go is a 1-6-3 double play,” Espada said, according to The Associated Press. “But his first reaction is, he sees the runner break and instincts take over.”

Hunter Brown Stayed Hot

Astros starter Hunter Brown was outstanding in six innings of work. Brown gave up three hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out six and walking two. Taylor Scott followed him and pitched a scoreless seventh. Abreu came in to start the eighth and, well, his night didn’t pan out. Bryan King came on after Abreu could only work one-third of an inning. He got the final two outs and gave the Houston Astros a chance in the top of the ninth inning.

But Ben Gamel, Jose Altuve, and Alex Bregman went down in order, securing the Orioles’ win.

Reliever Craig Kimbrel, who got ousted from his closer role for the Orioles have numerous bad outings, got the win in relief. He’s now 7-4 overall after working in the eighth inning. Reliever Seranthony Dominguez, whom Baltimore acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies, retired the Astros in order for his fifth save. It was his fourth since coming over to the American League East Division team.

Santander was really pleased after the victory that he could give the home crowd something to cheer about. “I’m so happy the fans stayed in that kind of game to support us,” he said. The Orioles’ rally helped them avoid their sixth loss in eight games. Houston had won all previous meetings with Baltimore this season.

“We’ve been struggling a little bit the last couple of weeks, and that was a big hit right there,” Santander said. “It’s a reminder who we are.”

Altuve and Jeremy Peña smashed homers for the Houston Astros. Altuve connected for an opposite-field, two-run homer that made it over the right-field fence. He also shared some goodwill with Baltimore fans, giving a young fan his bat after hitting the homer.

Peña posted a solo shot himself. Astros fans didn’t see Yordan Alvarez out there as he was a late scratch due to neck stiffness. Bregman was all set to get back to third base on Friday night. With Alvarez’s absence, Bregman once again filled the designated hitter role.

Jose Altuve gives the Astros the lead 💥 pic.twitter.com/bL9sfQhwbS

— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2024

But the Astros did miss a chance to extend its AL West Division lead. Houston had a five-game lead over the Seattle Mariners after the defeat. Seattle, in its first game under new manager Dan Wilson, hosted the San Francisco Giants at T-Mobile Park later Friday night.

Joe Espada Looks Ahead

Espada was ready to put Friday night’s loss behind him and focus on Saturday’s matchup. “The way I see it is, we’ve got to turn the page, flush that one and get ready for tomorrow,” Espada said. He knows that the Houston Astros are in a prime spot to even add more space between them and the Mariners. Seattle is coming off a losing road trip which ended up costing manager Scott Servais his job.

Mariners fans have been suffering since June, when their team was up 10 games. Coupled with the Astros’ winning ways, the entire division-leading script has been turned upside down. It’s now the Astros on top with a bit of a cushion. Espada is happy with the lead but he’s not satisfied, even for a team that was 10 games out on June 18.

“It feels good to be in this spot, but we’re not spiking the football,” Espada said. “There’s a lot of baseball left.”

The Houston Astros will send Framber Valdez (13-5, 3.20 ERA) to the mound against the Orioles’ Albert Suárez (6-4, 3.18). Valdez hopes to post his sixth straight win on Saturday. Suárez has three consecutive scoreless outings to his credit.

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