Valbuena HR Topples O's, 4-3

Valbuena: Points skyward after shot
(c) Associated Press
With his third base job in jeopardy, Luis Valbuena has stepped up with the long ball in each of the past two nights. On Wednesday, he used an awkward inside-out swing in the sixth inning to smash a tie-breaking homer which was the difference in a 4-3 victory over Baltimore.

The Orioles committed four errors and harsher scoring on both sides could have led to a few more. George Springer singled home Marwin Gonzalez in the third off Tyler Wilson to tie the score at one apiece early. Colby Rasmus reached on an error in the fourth and then scored on Evan Gattis' line drive homer into the first row of the Crawfords for a 3-2 lead.

A pair of singles got a Baltimore rally started in the sixth against Collin McHugh. Both runners moved up on an error by Tony Kemp in left then one run scored on a wild pitch that got away from Gattis, the Designated Catcher. Pedro Alvarez then tapped a roller which was generously scored a base hit when Gonzalez, the first baseman, found no place to throw the ball.

That ended the night for McHugh who struck out ten in just 5-1/3rd innings while giving up three runs on eight hits. Pat Neshek snuffed out the rally and was rewarded with the win after Valbuena's tie-breaker.

Ken Giles, Will Harris and Luke Gregerson worked through a scoreless inning each as Gregerson notched his 10th save. Giles struck out the side while Harris and Gregerson fanned two each to total 18 punchouts on the evening. If you think Houston lacks plate discipline, the Orioles have whiffed 58 times in their past four games, an average of over 14 per game.

The Astros have not swept a series all season but they will get their first chance to do so Thursday night at 7:10 Central. Former top prospect Kevin Gausman (0-1) will toe the rubber for the Birds against Lance McCullers (0-1). Both are righthanders. Seattle and Arlington both won in division play so Houston was unable to make any ground on the top two in the Al West standings.

- Bob Hulsey