HOUSTON -- George Springer walloped a pair of homers and Luis Valbuena homered for the third game in a row to lead the Astros to their first three-game winning streak of the season and a sweep of the Orioles with a 4-2 victory Thursday night at Minute Maid Park.Astros starter Lance McCullers picked up his first win of the season by striking out 10 batters and walking six in five innings, leading the way for a Houston pitching staff that fanned 15 batters, running its total against the Orioles to a Major League-record 52 for the three-game series.
The only run the Orioles scored in support of starting pitcher Kevin Gausman came on a solo homer in the second by Mark Trumbo. Gausman (0-2) struck out seven batters and allowed four runs and five hits in five innings.MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDDouble dingers from Springer: Springer took over the team lead in homers with 11 by recording his third career multihomer game and first since June 15, 2015, vs. Colorado. It was also the Astros' fifth multihomer game this season and first since Tyler White went deep twice on May 17 at the White Sox.Tolliver debuts: Ashur Tolliver made his Major League debut in place of Gausman as the 28-year-old lefty took over in the sixth inning. He struck out three and walked one, in an impressive four-out appearance.Whiff party: When Michael Feliz struck out Jonathan Schoop in the sixth inning for the team's 11th strikeout of the game, the Astros set a Major League record for strikeouts in a three-game series with 48 and finished at 52. Astros pitchers recorded 19 on Tuesday and 18 on Wednesday before McCullers hit double digits in five innings for the third time in his career to tie the record.Gausman done in by homers: The O's righty tied a career high in surrendering three homers, which was set in just his second career start back in 2013. Gausman entered the game having allowed just three homers in six starts this season.SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDSThe Orioles have struck out a combined 73 times over their last five games.REPLAY REVIEWThe Astros successfully challenged a call in the seventh inning. Jake Marisnick was thrown out at third base trying to stretch a triple, but the club challenged that the ball hit off a seat down the right-field line and should have been a ground-rule double. The double was confirmed and Marisnick was sent to second.Brian McTaggart /MLB.comBrittany Ghiroli / MLB.com
