Musgrove hit hard in Astros' 13-5 loss to Orioles

BALTIMORE (AP) - Nothing that Joe Musgrove encountered in his first three major league games helped prepare him for facing the power-laden Baltimore Orioles in their compact home stadium.

Musgrove allowed three of Baltimore's six home runs, and the Houston Astros extended their losing streak to five games with a 13-5 loss Thursday night.

Mark Trumbo set the tone in the first inning with his major league-leading 35th home run, a three-run shot to left against Musgrove, who looked every bit like a 23-year-old rookie making his third major league start.

"They're a fastball-hitting team. I like to throw fastballs," the right-hander said. "I didn't locate pitches very well. Got behind."

Musgrove (1-1) gave up eight runs and 11 hits - including three homers - over 5 1/3 innings.

"It was really just pitch execution," manager A.J. Hinch said.

Picked by Toronto in the supplemental first round of the 2011 draft, Musgrove began his big league career with a flourish - allowing only three runs in 19 1/3 innings. But this encounter lifted his ERA from 1.47 to 4.18.

"I firmly believe that I belong up here," he said. "I know I'm going to go through ups and downs. I'll try to limit the downs, analyze things tonight. Look at some film. Come back to work tomorrow."

Alex Bregman and A.J. Reed homered for the Astros, who now stand just a game over .500 (61-60).

"We've been in some uphill battles this year," Hinch said. "A couple of different times we found ourselves in a little bit of a rut."

After watching his pitching staff yield 12 runs and 17 hits over the first seven innings, Hinch called upon infielder Tyler White to pitch the eighth. White gave up one hit: Chris Davis' second homer of the game, the third in two nights.

"They just continue to come at you," Hinch said. "This is how they score. We didn't keep them in the ballpark the entire night."

J.J. Hardy also hit two homers for Baltimore, and Manny Machado added a three-run drive.

Kevin Gausman (4-10) struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings for Baltimore, giving up five runs, four earned.

After Trumbo got things started for Baltimore by setting a career high in homers, the Orioles added two runs in the second inning and went up 7-2 in the fourth when Hardy homered with a man on.

Hardy chased Musgrove with another shot in the sixth, and Machado and Davis connected in succession off James Hoyt later in the inning to make it 12-3.

Baltimore's Hyun Soo Kim enjoyed his first four-hit game in the majors, going 4 for 5 with his first triple. Playing in first year in the majors after a 10-year run in South Korea, the rookie can't help but marvel at his teammates' power.

"I was never with a team that hits this many home runs," he said through an interpreter. "It is very exciting. I feel just great being part of it."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: Luis Valbuena (right hamstring strain) made the trip to Baltimore, and Hinch said the infielder is "inching" toward a rehab assignment. ... The status of RHP Lance McCullers (sprained right elbow) remains unclear until he visits a doctor next week. "It's all guesswork at this point," Hinch said.

Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (sore shoulder) threw off flat ground and "is ready to go" for his start Saturday against Houston, Showalter said.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Colin McHugh (7-10, 4.70 ERA) starts in the second game of the series Friday night. He's 0-4 with a 7.65 ERA in his last four starts.

Orioles: LHP Wade Miley (7-10, 5.23) makes his fourth start since being traded from Seattle. The lefty is 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA with the Orioles.