Jordan Westburg homered for the only run of the game, and Corbin Burnes allowed more than three runs for the first time this season.
The Orioles always feel confident when Corbin Burnes takes the mound, but the Astros countered today with one of the better pitchers in the American League. Ronel Blanco limited Baltimore to only one run in seven innings, and Burnes made a few too many mistakes in a 5-1 loss at Houston.
The Orioles struck first when Jordan Westburg turned around a belt-high fastball and sent it 380 feet over the left field fence. Westburg’s 12th homer of the season marked a franchise record 21 consecutive games with at least one home run by an Orioles player.
Burnes tossed a scoreless first, but he failed to record a shutdown inning in the second. Yainer Diaz laced a ball to right field that sailed over a jumping Colton Cowser. The ball bounced hard off the wall and provided Diaz time to make it all the way to third. Burnes sent Jake Meyers down swinging for the first out, but Houston evened the score with a sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón.
Adley Rutschman and Ryan O’Hearn both reached with two outs in the third, but Ryan Mountcastle struck out to end the inning. Chas McCormick secured a leadoff single in the bottom half, and Houston took advantage of its scoring opportunity.
Burnes missed with a changeup to Yordan Álvarez, and the slugger did what he does best. Álvarez launched the ball 420 feet over the center field fence to provide Houston a 3-1 advantage.
The Orioles rarely threatened after that. Cedric Mullins tripled with one out in the seventh, but Colton Cowser was robbed on a lineout by Jeremy Peńa, and Ramón Urías lined out to end the threat.
McCormick extended the lead to three with a towering homer to left field in the fifth. Burnes threw seven straight cutters to McCormick before finally catching too much of the plate. Burnes had not allowed more than three runs in an outing before coughing up four today.
Burnes really only made a few mistakes, but Houston made him pay. He still kept Baltimore in the game and spared the bullpen with seven innings. He allowed five hits, struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Trailing by three, the Orioles sent out Bryan Baker in the eighth inning. McCormick capped a monster day by hammering Baker’s first pitch over the right field wall. Cowser did his best to keep the ball in the ballpark, but McCormick gave it just enough. Cowser appeared to hit his head on the robbery attempt but did remain in the game.
Mullins accounted for half of Baltimore’s hits with a 2-for-3 effort. O’Hearn’s single and Westburg’s homer represented the only other offense. Rutschman walked in his first two plate appearances but failed to record a hit after tallying five last night. Gunnar Henderson finished 0-for-3 with a walk, and Anthony Santander failed to build on a red-hot June.
Blanco continued a dominant start to 2024 with seven strong frames. Blanco moved to 8-2 while lowering his ERA to 2.34 this season. Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader recorded the final six outs without allowing a base runner.
There’s no reason to panic after Baltimore failed to solve that trio. The Orioles failed to win a wacky opener, and they came up short in against a talented pitcher today. Houston moved to 37-40 on the season, but the Astros still have a playoff caliber roster.
The result provided Houston a series win and now places Baltimore at risk of getting swept for the second time this season. Albert Súarez will face Framber Valdez tomorrow at 2:10 p.m.