Offensive outburst leads to winning streak
Bats mash 32 runs over 3 games that includes consecutive W’s
BALTIMORE — The Astros’ last offensive outburst — 32 runs over three games — came against the worst team in the American League.
They matched the total runs this weekend, but these 32 didn’t come against the woeful Minnesota Twins, who are 25 games under .500. They came against a Baltimore team that entered Saturday with a two-game cushion for the second wild card.
The Astros won 12-2 on Saturday night at Camden Yards, a game that ended with Orioles reserve infielder Ryan Flaherty moving to the mound from third base to pitch.
“We had numerous chances we didn’t even take advantage of, so we continue to get contributions out of the top of the lineup, bottom of the lineup, middle of the lineup,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “It’s a fun offense when we get going.”
After a 7-16 stretch, the Astros (63-60) have won consecutive games and are 4½ games back of the Orioles for the second wild card.
Quality start by Fiers
They also got a muchneeded quality start from the rotation.
“I needed it. The team needed it. I think everybody needed it,” said Mike Fiers, who allowed just one run over seven innings. “We need to get rolling here and put a bunch of wins together. We know it’s going to come down to the end and one game could be the difference like it was last year.”
Before Saturday, the last Astros starter to complete six innings was Joe Musgrove whenthe rookie went seven to beat Toronto on Aug. 12. That was also the last Astros win until they arrived in Baltimore.
In the five losses in between, Fiers and Doug Fister failed to reach five innings. Collin McHugh only made it to three Friday.
Fiers (9-6) struck out seven and walked one. Only two Orioles advanced past second base.
“The starter always sets the tone, and to pitch with a lead, pitch effectively with a lead, I thought he did a tremendous job,” Hinch said.
The Astros gave him a lead two batters into the game. George Springer singled and Alex Breg- man hit a changeup over the left-field wall. The homer was Bregman’s third in five days. His average, which stood at .029 at one point, is up to .238 after three more hits.
The Astros picked up two more in the second inning before chasing Chris Tillman four batters into the third.
It’s the second straight day in which the Astros knocked out an Orioles starter by the third inning. Wade Miley lasted 12⁄ in3 nings Friday, giving up six runs.
Tillman (15-5) matched him, doing it in two-plus innings. He hit Evan Gattis to start the third, then walked three in a row. The third forced home Gattis and sent Orioles manager Buck Showalter out to get the righthander. Springer stays hot
Tillman, who was scratched from his start Wednesday, finished with six runs allowed on six hits and five walks.
“We have a lot of guys putting together quality at-bats, and that’s what we’re going up there trying to do — hit the ball hard (and) swing at good pitch- es,” Bregman said. “We’ve been able to do that the last two days.”
Odrisamer Despaigne could only hold the Astros’ offense for two innings. Springer’s team-leading 25th home run made it 6-1 in the fifth. Carlos Correa and Jason Castro each drove in one in the sixth.
Springer had three hits and scored three times. Bregman, who drove in three, finished a triple shy of the cycle.
Fiers took care of the rest against a Baltimore lineup that added two more home runs to the 11 they hit the previous two days.
“Just using every one of mypitches,” he said. “Keeping them off-balanced. Just read the swings, keep the ball down as much as possible and trust my stuff and trust Jason behind there.”
The 31-year-old righthander worked around two singles in the first three innings and made his only mistake to power-hitting Chris Davis in the fourth.
Fiers threw a 2-0 fastball Davis hit the other way over the Orioles bullpen in left center.
The home run was his fifth in four games and fourth this series. It’s his second such streak this season — Davis homered in five consecutive games in early June.