The Houston Astros avoided a doubleheader sweep by the Baltimore Orioles with an 11-5 victory in Game 2 on Thursday at Camden Yards. Every starter recorded a hit as Yordan Alvarez tied the MLB home run lead with his 12th homer. Rookie Dustin Harris drove in three runs during a five-run first inning.
Houston manager Joe Espada rested Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve in Game 2, and the lineup responded emphatically. Yordan Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a three-hit performance, including his MLB-leading 12th home run that tied Aaron Judge and Munetaka Murakami. Cam Smith hit a three-run homer in the first inning off Orioles starter Brandon Young, putting Houston ahead 5-0 early. Rookie Dustin Harris added three RBIs, including two before Smith's blast, as the Astros tied a season high with 11 runs. Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker and Yainer Diaz also drove in runs, with every starter getting at least one hit and eight scoring. Lance McCullers Jr. earned the win, striking out nine over six innings while allowing three runs. “It’s going to take the whole entire team,” Espada said of his squad amid a 6-17 stretch. “Those guys [Correa and Altuve] have been playing every day; we need some of these other guys to come in and support.” Harris, claimed off waivers from the White Sox on April 18, praised the lineup's resilience: “One through nine, I don’t see how it would be a fun lineup to pitch to.” The win salvaged a split after a 10-3 loss in Game 2, Houston's first doubleheader since July 21, 2022. Despite a tough April, the Astros ranked fourth in MLB runs scored (168) through 32 games.
