Baltimore Orioles vs Houston Astros Box Score on May 26, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 26, 2017

HOUSTON -- Joe Musgrove pitched seven shutout innings, Jake Marisnick homered for a second consecutive game and Chris Devenski escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam as the Houston Astros eked out a 2-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.

Musgrove (4-4) produced the best start of his career, allowing four hits while recording six strikeouts. He departed with the lead thanks to Marisnick, whose sixth home run with one out in the third inning came against Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman (2-4), and Carlos Beltran, who added a solo homer in the sixth.

Devenski entered in the eighth and immediately allowed a leadoff double to Baltimore left fielder Hyun Soo Kim. Two infield singles later and the bases were loaded.

Devenski rallied to strike out Seth Smith before inducing fly-ball outs from Adam Jones and Manny Machado, with Machado sending right fielder George Springer several steps onto the warning track in right-center field.

Astros closer Ken Giles notched his 14th save to complete the shutout for Houston (33-16). The Orioles (25-21) dropped their fifth consecutive game.

There was little reason to anticipate this performance from Musgrove. He entered his seventh home start this season with a 1-4 record and a 6.44 ERA at Minute Maid Park, including a three-inning outing on Sunday when he allowed seven runs, eight hits and three walks.

The worst start of Musgrove's rookie season came against the Orioles last Aug. 18, when he gave up eight earned runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 13-5 loss.

Musgrove retired his first seven batters and, after allowing a one-out double to Jonathan Schoop in the third inning, he rallied with three consecutive strikeouts.

Musgrove fanned Chris Davis after Machado delivered the first of his two doubles off Musgrove, who responded by retiring five consecutive batters starting with Davis' strikeout.

It wasn't until the sixth inning that Musgrove ran into trouble.

After J.J. Hardy reached with a leadoff single via a swinging bunt, Astros catcher Evan Gattis completed a crucial double play by erasing Hardy as he attempted to steal second base after Smith swung and missed for a strikeout. Musgrove induced an Adam Jones groundout to end that inning.

In the seventh, Musgrove retired the final three batters he faced after Machado opened the inning with a double to left-center field.

NOTES: Orioles RHP Alec Asher will start the series finale on Sunday and replace RHP Ubaldo Jimenez in the rotation. Asher (1-2, 2.17 ERA) will make his third start of the season and first since allowing three runs, six hits and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings against the Boston Red Sox on May 2. Jimenez has surrendered 15 earned runs in his last 16 2/3 innings and three starts. ... Astros RHP Dallas Keuchel is expected to return from the 10-day disabled list and start against the Orioles on Saturday. Keuchel (7-0, 1.84 ERA) missed one turn in the rotation with a pinched nerve in his neck. Houston is also expecting C Brian McCann to return from the seven-day concussion DL on Saturday. ... Astros manager A.J. Hinch is undecided on whether RHP Brad Peacock will remain in the rotation after his successful spot start against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. If Peacock does start, he will do so during the series at Minnesota next week. Peacock worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Detroit with eight strikeouts.