Davis hits 2 homers, Orioles beat Astros 5-4

BALTIMORE -- Chris Davis was proud to get the traditional pie in the face from teammate Adam Jones after a break-out game against the Houston Astros.

Davis hit two homers, including a go-ahead solo shot in the eighth inning, to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-4 victory Wednesday night.

Jimmy Paredes had two hits and stole home for the Orioles, who took the three-game series after winning 4-3 on Monday. Steve Pearce hit his sixth home run for Baltimore.

"I swung at a couple of breaking balls early in the count that were borderline, but overall I thought I did a better job of making an adjustment and making them throw it in the zone," Davis said. "I think that's big, not only for me but for everyone in the lineup."

Ubaldo Jimenez started strong for the Orioles but faded in the seventh when he allowed three of his four runs. He gave up a season-high 10 hits with five strikeouts and one walk over seven innings.

"I think I did good. I mean, the main thing is I was able to go deep in the game because we have two games tomorrow, and we won the game," Jimenez said. "That's what matters."

Zach Britton picked up his 12th save for Baltimore.

Evan Gattis had three hits, including his 10th homer of the season. Colby Rasmus entered the game on an 0-for-11 skid, but had three hits off Jimenez. Rasmus is 13 for 31 (.419) lifetime against him.

The Astros pulled within 4-2 in the seventh on a grounder by Preston Tucker that scored George Springer. Gattis tied the game on a two-run homer to left-center. After Brad Bach (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth, Davis got his first multi-homer game in more than a year with a towering shot to center off Tony Sipp (2-2).

Last Thursday, Sipp allowed a walk-off homer in the 11th inning to James McCann in a 6-5 loss to Detroit.

"Obviously, he is a guy with power, so you have to hit your spots or he'll make you pay," Sipp said. "It's disappointing every time you give up runs. Nothing added on to what happened last time."

The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 11 minutes because of rain.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the second on a one-out double by Chris Carter after Gattis and Rasmus led off the inning with consecutive singles.

The Orioles took control with four runs in the fourth off right-hander Collin McHugh. Baltimore tied it when Paredes led off with a double, took third on a bunt single by Adam Jones and then scored on a double steal. Davis hit a two-run homer to right and Pearce followed with a solo shot.

McHugh allowed four runs and a season high-tying nine hits with five strikeouts over six innings.

"Our guys battled back hard like they've done all year," McHugh said. "You miss in the middle of the play you usually get it at this level. That's what happened. You would like to think you can get through your innings without giving up those big hits. It didn't happen tonight."

Brach earned both victories in the Orioles' three-game series with Houston, after pitching the sixth and seventh innings in Baltimore's win on Monday.

TRAINERS ROOM

Astros: RHP Brett Oberholtzer (blister) was scheduled to pitch five innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Fresno on Wednesday.

Orioles: INF Ryan Flaherty (right groin strain) was reinstated from the 15-day DL and started at second base. OF Alejandro De Aza was designated for assignment.

UP NEXT

Astros: Lance McCullers will make his second start after picking up his first major league win against Detroit on May 23. The right-hander will face White Sox LHP Carlos Rondon.

Orioles: Two rookies who recently won their first major league decisions will start for Baltimore in Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox. Tyler Wilson will start Game 1, while Mike Wright will get the ball in the second game. The double-header is a makeup from games postponed because of rioting near Camden Yards.