Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Steve Pearce's two-run homer in the seventh inning lifted the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-3 win over Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros on Monday afternoon.
Keuchel (6-1) was in line for another win as the Astros entered the bottom of the seventh with a 3-2 lead. The left-hander had retired 11 straight batters before giving up a one-out single to Delmon Young. Pearce followed with a blast to right-center field to put the Orioles ahead for good.
"Pearce's first-pitch home run, that was impressive, just because nobody really puts a swing on that pitch," said Keuchel. "I've never seen one this season like that. But you got to give credit to their guys and I just got to do a better job."
Keuchel gave up all four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk over eight innings. The 27-year-old saw his career-long winning streak of eight games come to an end, losing for the first time since Aug. 21, 2014.
Baltimore starter Wei-Yin Chen allowed three runs on 11 hits while striking out six over five innings. Brad Brach (2-0) tossed two perfect innings to pick up the win.
Oliver Drake tossed a scoreless eighth for Baltimore and Zach Britton pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save of the season.
"They had their pops at Wei-Yin, but he held them when he had to," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "It's not easy. Pitching is hard, especially against that team. They have a lot of ways to beat you."
The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the second on Caleb Joseph's two-run homer. Young led off with a single and scored on Joseph's two-out blast to left.
George Springer led off the third with a homer to left-center field to cut Houston's deficit in half.
The Astros took the lead with a two-run fifth, in which Springer and Jose Altuve started the frame with back-to-back singles. Though Springer was thrown out at third when Luis Valbuena grounded into a fielder's choice and Evan Gattis struck out swinging, Chris Carter hit a two-run single to right.
Game Notes
Houston went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven ... Springer had three of Houston's 11 hits ... Keuchel was the first Houston pitcher to start a season with six straight wins since Roger Clemens was 9-0 in 2004 ... Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy left with back tightness, but Showalter hopes he can return Tuesday.
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