Key Moment Defines Outcome
Taylor Ward provided the decisive blow in the eighth inning, launching a 399-foot home run to left center that plated Rutschman and put the Baltimore Orioles ahead for good. The two-run shot broke a 1-1 tie, propelling Baltimore to a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday at Daikin Park.
The game remained tightly contested through the early and middle innings. Baltimore took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Alvarez doubled to left field, allowing Peña to cross the plate. The Astros responded in the third inning to knot the score at 1-1.
After a walk to Alonso, Mayo scored on a play that drew a Houston challenge; the call on the field was upheld, making it 1-1. The Orioles reclaimed the lead later in the same frame when Paredes hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Peña to make it 1-2.
Pitching Performances
Houston starter Peter Lambert kept the Orioles in check for six innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out 10 batters. He exited after the sixth inning, leaving the game to Steven Okert, who pitched a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts.
Bryan King took the loss in the eighth, giving up two earned runs on two hits before Enyel De Los Santos closed out the ninth with a scoreless frame.
