BALTIMORE -- With the exception of two mighty swings, the Baltimore Orioles did very little offensively against Dallas Keuchel.
Baltimore didn't strand a runner and never got one in scoring position. In six of eight innings, the Orioles sent only three batters to the plate.
Yet, thanks to two-run homers by Caleb Joseph and Steve Pearce, the Orioles dealt Keuchel his first loss in a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday.
Keuchel (6-1) came in with a 1.67 ERA and had won three straight starts. The left-hander allowed just one home run in nine appearances this season before Joseph connected in the second inning and Pearce went deep in the seventh.
"I think the game was more about they took advantage of every opportunity they had, which weren't many," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "Two pitches up. Timely hitting for them."
Keuchel gave up six hits, struck out three and walked one over eight innings in his first complete game of 2015 and seventh of his career.
"To beat a good pitcher like him, it's really a challenge," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "But in order to beat him, you have to pitch well. That's what our four guys did."
Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen allowed three runs and 11 hits in five innings. Only once before had the left-hander surrendered more hits in a game, but he kept the damage to a minimum by repeatedly working out of jams.
"They had their pops at Wei-Yin but he held them when he had to," Showalter said.
Brad Brach (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and Oliver Drake worked a perfect eighth before Zach Britton got three straight outs for his 11th save.
The victory comes after Baltimore dropped two of three against the lowly Marlins.
"Hopefully today is the start of something," Pearce said. "We have a good team, we have a good hitting team. We just haven't had consistency all year. Right now is a good time to get hot as any."
George Springer had a season-high three hits and a homer for the Astros, who stranded seven and went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
Keuchel retired 11 straight batters until the seventh, when Delmon Young singled with one out and Pearce drove the a two-seam fastball over the wall in right-center to erase a 3-2 deficit.
"Pearce's first-pitch home run, that was impressive just because nobody really puts a swing on that pitch," the lefty said. "I've never seen one this season like that."
The Astros squandered several scoring opportunities until the fifth inning, when Chris Carter hit a two-out, opposite-field bloop single to right field that brought in two runs for a 3-2 lead.
Houston got singles from the first two batters in both the first and second innings but could not score.
Baltimore went up 2-0 in the second when Young singled and Joseph hit a drive that barely cleared the left-field wall, only the second homer allowed by Keuchel in 66 innings.
Springer led off the third with his seventh home run, the first in 33 at-bats.
Before the game, Major League Baseball announced that Orioles left-handed reliever Brian Matusz had been suspended eight games for using a foreign substance in Saturday night's game against Miami. Matusz appealed the punishment and will be allowed to play until the hearing.
HOT AND NOT
Astros: Springer is 10 for 23 in his last six games to raise his batting average from .185 to .224
Orioles: Adam Jones went hitless in three at-bats Monday and is 3 for 22 over his last five games. Jones is batting .315 on the season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: LHP Brett Oberholtzer (blister on left index finger) will begin a rehabilitation assignment in the next four or five days, Hinch said. ... RHP Sam Deduno (lower back strain) will throw in the bullpen on Tuesday and could start a rehab assignment later in the week.
Orioles: SS J.J. Hardy left with back tightness, but Showalter hopes he can return Tuesday. ... C Matt Wieters (elbow) will begin his rehab assignment behind the plate at Double-A Bowie on Tuesday. ... RHP Bud Norris (bronchitis) won't pitch in Thursday's DH against Chicago and will instead extend his rehab assignment with Bowie on Wednesday, Showalter said.
ON DECK
Astros: Former Oriole Scott Feldman (3-4) makes his 10th start of the season Tuesday night. He went 5-6 with Baltimore in 2013.
Orioles: Chris Tillman (2-6, 6.10 ERA) seeks his first win in six starts since April 18.
Baltimore didn't strand a runner and never got one in scoring position. In six of eight innings, the Orioles sent only three batters to the plate.
Yet, thanks to two-run homers by Caleb Joseph and Steve Pearce, the Orioles dealt Keuchel his first loss in a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday.
Keuchel (6-1) came in with a 1.67 ERA and had won three straight starts. The left-hander allowed just one home run in nine appearances this season before Joseph connected in the second inning and Pearce went deep in the seventh.
"I think the game was more about they took advantage of every opportunity they had, which weren't many," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "Two pitches up. Timely hitting for them."
Keuchel gave up six hits, struck out three and walked one over eight innings in his first complete game of 2015 and seventh of his career.
"To beat a good pitcher like him, it's really a challenge," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "But in order to beat him, you have to pitch well. That's what our four guys did."
Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen allowed three runs and 11 hits in five innings. Only once before had the left-hander surrendered more hits in a game, but he kept the damage to a minimum by repeatedly working out of jams.
"They had their pops at Wei-Yin but he held them when he had to," Showalter said.
Brad Brach (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and Oliver Drake worked a perfect eighth before Zach Britton got three straight outs for his 11th save.
The victory comes after Baltimore dropped two of three against the lowly Marlins.
"Hopefully today is the start of something," Pearce said. "We have a good team, we have a good hitting team. We just haven't had consistency all year. Right now is a good time to get hot as any."
George Springer had a season-high three hits and a homer for the Astros, who stranded seven and went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
Keuchel retired 11 straight batters until the seventh, when Delmon Young singled with one out and Pearce drove the a two-seam fastball over the wall in right-center to erase a 3-2 deficit.
"Pearce's first-pitch home run, that was impressive just because nobody really puts a swing on that pitch," the lefty said. "I've never seen one this season like that."
The Astros squandered several scoring opportunities until the fifth inning, when Chris Carter hit a two-out, opposite-field bloop single to right field that brought in two runs for a 3-2 lead.
Houston got singles from the first two batters in both the first and second innings but could not score.
Baltimore went up 2-0 in the second when Young singled and Joseph hit a drive that barely cleared the left-field wall, only the second homer allowed by Keuchel in 66 innings.
Springer led off the third with his seventh home run, the first in 33 at-bats.
Before the game, Major League Baseball announced that Orioles left-handed reliever Brian Matusz had been suspended eight games for using a foreign substance in Saturday night's game against Miami. Matusz appealed the punishment and will be allowed to play until the hearing.
HOT AND NOT
Astros: Springer is 10 for 23 in his last six games to raise his batting average from .185 to .224
Orioles: Adam Jones went hitless in three at-bats Monday and is 3 for 22 over his last five games. Jones is batting .315 on the season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: LHP Brett Oberholtzer (blister on left index finger) will begin a rehabilitation assignment in the next four or five days, Hinch said. ... RHP Sam Deduno (lower back strain) will throw in the bullpen on Tuesday and could start a rehab assignment later in the week.
Orioles: SS J.J. Hardy left with back tightness, but Showalter hopes he can return Tuesday. ... C Matt Wieters (elbow) will begin his rehab assignment behind the plate at Double-A Bowie on Tuesday. ... RHP Bud Norris (bronchitis) won't pitch in Thursday's DH against Chicago and will instead extend his rehab assignment with Bowie on Wednesday, Showalter said.
ON DECK
Astros: Former Oriole Scott Feldman (3-4) makes his 10th start of the season Tuesday night. He went 5-6 with Baltimore in 2013.
Orioles: Chris Tillman (2-6, 6.10 ERA) seeks his first win in six starts since April 18.
1:35PM,EDT,May 25,2015
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Houston - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Wei-Yin Chen pitching for Baltimore | HOU | BAL |
| Springer singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Altuve singled to left, Springer to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Valbuena fouled out to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Gattis struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Carter flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | BAL |
| Machado walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Paredes grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Machado out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| Jones lined into double play, to first, Paredes doubled off first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Wei-Yin Chen pitching for Baltimore | HOU | BAL |
| Tucker reached on infield single to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Villar singled to left, Tucker to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Conger bunted into double play, pitcher to third to first, Tucker out at third, Villar to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Marisnick struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | BAL |
| Young singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Pearce flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Hardy struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Joseph homered to left center (367 feet), Young scored. | 0 | 2 |
| Cabrera grounded out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Wei-Yin Chen pitching for Baltimore | HOU | BAL |
| Springer homered to left center (425 feet). | 1 | 2 |
| Altuve grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 2 |
| Valbuena fouled out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Gattis doubled to deep right center. | 1 | 2 |
| Carter grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | BAL |
| De Aza struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Machado reached on infield single to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Paredes grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Machado out at second. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Wei-Yin Chen pitching for Baltimore | HOU | BAL |
| Tucker struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Villar struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Conger doubled to deep right. | 1 | 2 |
| Marisnick struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | BAL |
| Jones grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Young grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Pearce struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Wei-Yin Chen pitching for Baltimore | HOU | BAL |
| Springer singled to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Altuve singled to left, Springer to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Valbuena grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Springer out at third, Altuve to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Gattis struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Carter singled to right, Altuve and Valbuena scored. | 3 | 2 |
| Tucker singled to left, Carter to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Villar flied out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | BAL |
| Hardy grounded out to catcher. | 3 | 2 |
| Joseph lined out to right. | 3 | 2 |
| Cabrera bunt grounded out to first. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Brad Brach pitching for Baltimore | HOU | BAL |
| Brach relieved Chen. | 3 | 2 |
| Conger flied out to left. | 3 | 2 |
| Marisnick struck out looking. | 3 | 2 |
| Springer struck out looking. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | BAL |
| De Aza grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Machado grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Paredes fouled out to first. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Brad Brach pitching for Baltimore | HOU | BAL |
| Altuve flied out to right. | 3 | 2 |
| Valbuena flied out to right. | 3 | 2 |
| Gattis struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | BAL |
| Jones bunt popped out to pitcher. | 3 | 2 |
| Young singled to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Pearce homered to right center (401 feet), Young scored. | 3 | 4 |
| Hardy singled to center. | 3 | 4 |
| Joseph grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Hardy out at second. | 3 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Oliver Drake pitching for Baltimore | HOU | BAL |
| Davis at first base. | 3 | 4 |
| Pearce at second base. | 3 | 4 |
| Lough in left field. | 3 | 4 |
| Cabrera at shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| De Aza in right field. | 3 | 4 |
| Drake relieved Brach. | 3 | 4 |
| Carter struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| Tucker grounded out to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Rasmus hit for Villar. | 3 | 4 |
| Rasmus struck out looking. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston | HOU | BAL |
| González at shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| Cabrera grounded out to pitcher. | 3 | 4 |
| De Aza popped out to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Machado lined out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Zach Britton pitching for Baltimore | HOU | BAL |
| Britton relieved Drake. | 3 | 4 |
| Conger grounded out to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Marisnick lined out to right. | 3 | 4 |
| Springer struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston Astros | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Springer RF | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .224 | .347 | .434 |
| Altuve 2B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .299 | .348 | .429 |
| Valbuena 3B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .194 | .257 | .413 |
| Gattis DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | .203 | .234 | .437 |
| Carter 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | .172 | .280 | .325 |
| Tucker LF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .341 | .426 | .585 |
| Villar SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .250 | .304 | .297 |
a-Rasmus PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | .229 | .292 | .496 |
González SS
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .263 | .271 | .421 |
| Conger C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | .175 | .313 | .350 |
| Marisnick CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 | .273 | .310 | .417 |
| Totals | 37 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 141 | |||
| a-struck out looking for J Villar in the 8th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Gattis (6, Chen); Conger (1, Chen) HR: Springer (7, 3rd inning off Chen 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Springer (17), Carter 2 (22) 2-out RBI: Carter 2 GIDP: Conger Astros RISP: 1-11 (Conger 0-1, Marisnick 0-2, Carter 1-3, Gattis 0-2, Valbuena 0-2, Villar 0-1) Team LOB: 7 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 3 (Carter, Villar-Altuve-Carter, Altuve-Villar-Carter). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD |
| Attendance | 28,909 (62.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:20 |
| Weather | 80 degrees, sunny |
| Wind | 5 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Bruce Dreckman, First Base - Alfonso Marquez, Second Base - Dan Bellino, Third Base - Ben May |
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