:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46415724/GettyImages-474897342.0.jpg)
The Astros were on the knife's edge for a winning or losing road trip. Houston was 3-3 through four games in Detroit and two in Baltimore. Things were looking up with Collin McHugh on the mound and the Astros the board early.
Houston struck first in Wednesday's game with back-to-back singles from Evan gattis and Colby Rasmus to lead off the inning. Chris Carter ripped a double to the left field wall, scoring Gattis. Rasmus would stop at third.
The Astros squandered this early chance, as Jason Castro struck out and Marwin Gonzalez popped out to end the inning.
McHugh was rolling along through the first three innings, scattering two Orioles hits. Former Astro, Jimmy Paredes, got the ball rolling the fourth for Baltimore's offense. Paredes doubled to lead off the inning. Adam Jones followed with a single to put runners on the corners.
The O's pulled the little league play of double stealing with runners on the corners. Castro, like he did the previous series against the Tigers, threw down to second. Unlike last series, Paredes was called safe on the throw back home from Marwin Gonzalez.
Chris Davis, who was at-bat during the double steal, made this whole song and dance mute with a home run.
Another former Astro followed with a home run of his own, Steve Pearce went back-to-back with Davis. The O's now lead 4-1 through four innings.
The Astros were able to load the bases in the sixth with one out, but Carter and Castro were unable to strike the decisive blow.
Houston was on the verge of scoring again the seventh after George Springer and Jose Altuve hit back-to-back singles. Springer moved to third on the Altuve single and scored on fielder's choice on a Preston Tucker ground ball.
El Oso Blanco capped off the inning with a game-tying two-run home run.
The Astros bullpen stepped in to keep the game tied in the bottom of the seventh. Josh Fields had a 1-2-3 inning. Fields was pulled after retiring Adam Jones in favor of left-hander Tony Sipp to face Chris Davis. Davis smoked a belt-high fastball to deep right-center field for his second home run of the game.
Jose Altuve keep hope alive in the top of the ninth with a two-out double, but Preston Tucker ended that hope with a long flyball to end the game.
Astros head home to face the White Sox for three games starting Friday at 7:10 p.m CT.