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Orioles blow early lead, waste 5 HRs in 15-8 loss to Astros

BALTIMORE (AP) - The Baltimore Orioles set a major league record by hitting four home runs in the first inning before making an out.

Unfortunately, they still had eight innings left to play.

Wade Miley and a host of Baltimore pitchers struggled for much of the game, and the Orioles wasted five homers in a 15-8 loss to the Houston Astros on Friday night.

Coming off a six-homer performance on Thursday, the Orioles picked up where they left off against Houston starter Collin McHugh, becoming the first team in the modern era (since 1900) to open a game with four home runs before making an out, according to STATS.

Adam Jones hit McHugh's first pitch into the seats in left field and Hyun Soo Kim singled before Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo homered in succession.

But Houston answered with a five-run second to go up 6-5. Jose Altuve capped the surge with a two-run double with two outs to chase Miley, who matched the shortest start of his career.

"It was terrible. It's embarrassing for that to happen," he said. "I flat-out stunk."

The left-hander is 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA in four starts since being traded from Seattle on July 31.

He wasn't the only culprit. Five Baltimore pitchers combined to give up a season-high 15 runs and 18 hits.

"I know he's frustrated, but he's not the only one who struggled pitching tonight," manager Buck Showalter said.

Altuve homered and had five RBIs to help the Astros end a five-game skid. George Springer went 4 for 5 with a home run for Houston, which also got long balls from Evan Gattis and Teoscar Hernandez.

Chris Devenski (2-4) allowed one hit in four innings for the Astros after McHugh yielded seven runs and nine hits in three innings.

"I don't know if I've ever been blitzed like that before in my career," the right-hander said. "Today's game in general was kind of a crazy."

Springer provided a glimpse of things to come by hitting a leadoff homer on the fifth pitch from Miley.

After the teams traded five-run innings, Baltimore went up 7-6 in the third and Houston pulled even in the fourth.

The Astros took a 9-7 lead against Ubaldo Jimenez (5-10) in the fifth. Hernandez blooped an RBI single to center and Springer greeted Tyler Wilson with a run-scoring single.

Pedro Alvarez homered in the bottom half before Houston pulled away in the sixth, getting a two-run homer from Altuve and a solo shot from Gattis.

Showalter doesn't expect this defeat to linger with his team.

"Our guys turn the page very quickly, just like their team did before tonight's game," he said.

Trumbo, who leads the majors with 36 homers, shrugged off the loss.

"It's going to happen throughout the course of the year," he said. "We've had a lot of good times, and some not-so-good times, and this will be one of them. Everyone is this room has dealt with it many times before. It's not easy to brush off, but I think we're equipped to do it."

ROSTER MOVES

Astros: Optioned reliever James Hoyt to Triple-A Fresno and recalled Brad Peacock from the same club. "We need some fresh arms up here," manager A.J. Hinch said.

Orioles: Optioned Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk after the game.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: OF Jake Marisnick got the night off as he tries to work through a sore groin. He's played in only two games since Aug. 11. "He's not moving quite at full speed," Hinch said.

Orioles: OF Joey Rickard (thumb) won't be ready to play when rosters expand on Sept. 1, Showalter said.

UP NEXT

Astros: Mike Fiers (8-6, 4.66 ERA) makes his 88th career start Saturday, facing the Orioles for the first time.

Orioles: Chris Tillman (15-4, 3.46) gets the call after having his start Wednesday pushed back because of a sore right shoulder.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Wade Miley throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) The Associated Press
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Vance Worley leaves the game after giving up a solo home run to a Houston Astros batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in Baltimore. The Astros won 15-8. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) The Associated Press
Houston Astros' George Springer follows through on an RBI single against the Baltimore Orioles during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in Baltimore. The Astros won 15-8. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) The Associated Press