Burnes streak ends, Orioles bats fall silent in loss to Astros

HOUSTON — Fifteen starts into his career with the Orioles, Corbin Burnes has set a high standard for what his new team should expect of him every time he takes the ball. The right-handed ace’s 16th start may not have reached that standard, but the Orioles’ offense faded to leave him with just one series of support in a 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros SATURDAY.

Burnes, who entered with an active streak of 10 consecutive quality starts, took the loss after allowing a season-high four runs in seven innings. He entered the game deep but was ultimately undone by the long ball, giving up a two-run homer to Yordan Alvarez in the third and a solo shot to Chas McCormick in the fifth. It was the first time Burnes, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason, allowed multiple home runs in a game as an Oriole.

The Orioles (49-27), however, struck first. Jordan Westburg, a native of New Braunfels, Texas, took Astros starter Ronel Blanco deep to left field in the second inning for his 12th home run of the season and first in his home state as a major leaguer. Westburg’s blast extended the Orioles’ streak to 21 consecutive games with at least one home run, setting a franchise record.

Houston answered back in the bottom half of the inning on a Mauricio Dubón sacrifice fly to drive in Yainer Diaz, who led off the game with a triple. The Astros added the rest thanks to Alvarez, who became the first hitter to throw a changeup off Burnes this season, and McCormick, who won a seven-pitch battle in which Burnes threw only cutters.

Baltimore’s offense, which stranded five baserunners and finished 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position, never responded. Blanco, who pitched seven hitless innings against the Detroit Tigers in his previous outing Sunday, bounced back from Westburg’s home run by pitching five scoreless frames to finish with one run allowed in seven innings. The Astros’ bullpen was strained after using five relievers in Game 1 Friday night, but Ryan Pressly and former Orioles prospect Josh Hader (Old Mill) stayed out of trouble to keep Baltimore out of contention. painting.