Astros 5 - 2 Orioles
Final
  for this game

Astros power past Orioles to avoid sweep

May 12, 2014 - 12:40 AM Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Jason Castro and Marc Krauss both homered to help the Houston Astros salvage the final matchup of a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-2 win on Sunday.

Castro and Krauss helped make a winner out of Jarred Cosart (2-3), who allowed two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts over six innings of work.

Chad Qualls pitched a scoreless ninth to secure his second save of the season.

Adam Jones knocked in both runs for Baltimore, which activated first baseman Chris Davis from the disabled list prior to the game.

Davis had been sidelined since April 25 due to a strained left oblique and went 2-for-4 in his return. The O's placed catcher Matt Wieters (right elbow strain) on the disabled list to make room for Davis on the active roster.

Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 18 games and has now hit safely in 21 of his last 22.

Chris Tillman (3-2) took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits and five walks over five innings.

"He never quite got in sync," O's manager Buck Showalter said of Tillman. "Fortunately for us he kept us in the game. (He's) probably frustrated all things considered."

Baltimore had its five-game winning streak snapped.

Jose Altuve and Dexter Fowler walked to lead off the game, and Castro popped a homer to dead center that gave the Astros a 3-0 lead before Tillman had recorded an out.

"When we can come out and score early is when we are at our best," said Castro. "To give the young staff a breather from the beginning, you give them a little cushion to work with."

Markakis, Manny Machado and Davis all singled with one out to load the bases in the third. Jones followed with a single to left that plated Markakis and Machado to cut the deficit to 3-2 after three innings.

Markakis walked to start the fifth and Davis doubled two batters later to put runners in scoring position with one out. Cosart followed with a strikeout of Jones and then got Nelson Cruz to flyout to shallow left, escaping the threat.

Krauss gave the visitors some breathing room with a two-run homer to right in the seventh.

Game Notes

The O's haven't won six straight since Sept. 16-22, 2012 ... Houston improved to 6-13 on the road this season ... Markakis will need a hit in his next game to match his career high at 19 games ... The Astros were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position ... The O's were 2-for-6 with RISP.






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