Astros Club Orioles 5-2

The Houston Astros took advantage of bases-loaded RBI hits by George Springer and Evan Gattis to put up four runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 at Minute Maid Park Monday.

"I think our guys, you know, they get a little more focus later in the game," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "We just get a little tighter focus as the game goes along."

Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez struck out eight and allowed two runs on four hits, including a single to Chris Carter  that  started the Astro rally in the seventh, in six-plus innings of work.

Reliever Brad Branch (3-1) gave up three runs, all earned, on two hits and two walks in just two-thirds of an inning picking up his fiorst loss of the season.

Lefty Bret Oberholtzer allowed two runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings making only his second start of the season after missing time on the disabled list with blister issues.

Relievers will Harris and Luke Gregerson were perfect coming out of the pen. Harris picking up his second win of the season and Gregerson collected his 14^th save of the campaign.

Baltimore right fielder Delmon Young was the player of the night for the O’s going 2-for-4 at the plate and collecting two exciting outfield assists. Young uncorked a throw to nail Marwyn Gonzales at the plate to end the fifth inning and gunning down Preston Tucker at third to close out the seventh.

"We played a really good defensive game, otherwise they would have scored a lot more runs," said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter.

Game two of the series is slated for 7:10 p.m. Tuesday from Minute Maid Park.

Right-handed rookie Mike Wright (2-0, 1.40 ERA) will take the ball for Showalter to square off against Collin McHugh (5-2, 4.24).

You can catch game two of the four-game series on Sports Radio 13 The Fan beginning with “Astro’s Launch” at 6:45 p.m.