It was a day of highs and lows at Camden Yards, as the Houston Astros salvaged a doubleheader split with the Baltimore Orioles, taking the nightcap 11-5 after dropping the opener 10-3. The twin bill showcased explosive offense and standout performances from both sides.
In the second game, the Astros came out swinging. Yordan Alvarez, fresh off a 13-game hitting streak that ended in the opener, went 3-for-4 with his 12th home run of the season and scored three times. His solo shot in the second inning extended Houston's lead to 6-0, putting the game firmly in their control. Cam Smith also made an early impact, launching a three-run homer in the first inning as part of a five-run frame that saw the Astros send nine batters to the plate. Yainer Diaz added three hits, and Leody Taveras chipped in with a two-run double as Houston finished with 15 hits total.
Lance McCullers Jr. (2-2) delivered a solid start, pitching six innings and allowing three runs on just two hits while striking out nine and walking four. His effort helped the Astros bounce back after a tough opener.
The Orioles struck first in Game 1, with Adley Rutschman and Jeremiah Jackson each hitting grand slams to power Baltimore to a 10-3 victory. Chris Bassitt (2-2) tossed 6 2/3 innings for his longest outing of the season, allowing just one run on seven hits. Peter Lambert (1-2) took the loss after giving up two runs over 4 1/3 innings.
Houston didn't let up in the nightcap, batting around again in the fourth inning to add four more runs. They capitalized on three hits, two walks, a sacrifice fly, and an Orioles error to put the game out of reach. Orioles starter Brandon Young (2-1) struggled, allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits over four innings.
For the Astros, Isaac Paredes went 5-for-10 across both games, providing a steady presence in the lineup. Houston now turns its attention to a three-game series in Boston, with right-hander Mike Burrows (1-3, 6.25 ERA) set to take the mound Friday. The Orioles, meanwhile, head to Yankee Stadium and had not yet announced a starter for their series opener.