HOUSTON -AP- With the lineup the Houston Astros have, Lance McCullers wasn't too concerned when he gave up three runs in the first two innings on Sunday.
He was right not to be worried, and it didn't take long for Houston to turn things around.
George Springer homered during a six-run second inning, sending McCullers and the Astros over Baltimore 8-4 for the Orioles' season-worst seventh straight loss.
Springer connected for the second straight game , helping the Astros overcome a 3-0 deficit against Alec Asher (1-3).
 
Springer, McCullers, Astros hand Orioles 7th loss in row 8-4
 
 
"Three runs, I feel like our team is pretty much going to score that every time," McCullers said. "Not an ideal start ... (but) you just say to yourself got to keep it here and let the guys go to work and they did."
McCullers (6-1) allowed five hits and three runs -- two earned -- in six innings. He struck out eight in his fourth straight win.
McCullers' streak of 22 scoreless innings ended when Schoop hit a two-run homer in the first.
Schoop drove in three runs and Mark Trumbo added a solo homer for the Orioles, who have been outscored 38-17 during their skid.
"It's very easy to get into a lackluster game where we've already won the series, we've already come back from the start of the homestand being poor, but our guys came out with an explosive inning," manager A.J. Hinch said. "Huge to see and not just to pick up Lance, but to continue to play pretty exceptional baseball."
The Astros have won six of seven since being swept by the Indians to start the homestand to move a season-high 19 games over .500 at 35-16.
Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run double with one out in the Houston second inning and scored on a double by Yuli Gurriel to tie it at 3.
Springer for his 11th homer with two outs. Asher watched the ball sail over him and put his hands on his knees and shook his head as Springer rounded the bases.
"You start falling behind hitters like the caliber of that team and you get in trouble," Asher said. "Just one thing after another and you find yourself giving up a couple of runs and it's tough to get out of it."
Josh Reddick followed with a triple and scored on a single by Jose Altuve to push the lead to 6-3. Asher finally got the third out when Carlos Correa hit a grounder in his second at-bat of the inning.
Asher gave up six hits in two innings in his first start since replacing struggling right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez in the rotation. Jimenez, who had a 7.17 ERA in nine games entering Sunday, allowed five hits and two runs in six innings after Asher's early exit.
Up 2-0, the Orioles the bases with one out in the second on a single by Hyun Soo Kim and two errors. Schoop's single with two outs pushed the lead to 3-0 before McCullers retired Manny Machado to limit the damage.
 

Comments are closed.