Britton sets record for AL saves as Orioles beat Astros
BALTIMORE—Zach Britton set an American League record by converting his 55th consecutive save opportunity, blanking the Houston Astros in the ninth inning the seal the Baltimore Orioles’ 9-7 victory on Sunday.
Britton struck out the first two batters and issued a walk before pinch-hitter George Springer bounced into a force play to end it.
Britton broke the AL mark held by Tom Gordon, who notched 54 straight saves with Boston from 1998-99. Britton started his run on Oct. 1, 2015, added 47 in a row last season and is 6 for 6 this year.
The major league record of 84 is held by Eric Gagne of the Dodgers from 2002-04. Saves became an official statistic in 1969.
Britton earned his fifth save on April 14 and endured two months on the disabled list with a strained left forearm before returning on July 5.
Baltimore broke a tie with two runs in the eighth against Luke Gregerson (2-3), using a sacrifice fly by Manny Machado and an RBI single by Jonathan Schoop.
Britton made the lead stand up, using 16 pitches to retire the AL West leaders.
Mark Trumbo homered and Adam Jones had four hits for the Orioles, who avoided a threegame sweep. Baltimore had lost eight straight to Houston, dating to last year.
Mychal Givens (7-0) worked the eighth for the Orioles.
The Astros twice fell behind
by three runs before coming back. Jose Altuve’s 15th home run—the first of his four hits—made it 3-all in the fourth, and Noro Aoki connected with two on in the sixth to knot the score at 6.
Houston added a run in the sixth, but Trumbo tied it with a shot to left leading off the seventh.
Astros starter Lance McCullers gave up six runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. In three starts this month, the right-hander is 0-1 with a 9.88 ERA.
Baltimore’s Dylan Bundy allowed seven runs in 5 1/3 innings, including both Houston homers.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: 3B Colin Moran was placed on the disabled list with a facial fracture. The injury occurred Saturday night when the rookie fouled a ball off his cheek, and he remained hospitalized Sunday. Houston recalled 1B Tyler White from Triple-A Fresno. … LHP Dallas Keuchel pitched five innings in his second rehab appearance Saturday night. He’s been on the DL since June 5 with a neck injury.
Orioles: SS J.J. Hardy, who’s been on the DL since June 19 with a fractured wrist,
is taking grounders but not yet throwing. “Right now, the stage is getting the mobility back,” Hardy said. He will see a hand specialist in a week, then seek to strengthen the wrist before starting baseball activities.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Brad Peacock (8-1, 2.49 ERA) helps Houston launch a threegame interleague series in Philadelphia on Monday night.
Orioles: Kevin Gausman (6-7, 6.11 ERA) seeks to level his record for the first time since April 18 when Baltimore opens a three-game series at Tampa Bay on Monday night.