Morton, Gonzalez Help Astros Over Orioles 6-1
HOUSTON (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched six scoreless innings, Marwin Gonzalez homered and the Houston Astros unveiled their World Series banner before defeating the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Monday night in their home opener.
Morton (1-0) allowed three hits and struck out six. The right-hander picked up where he left off after getting the final 12 outs in Game 7 against the Dodgers to help secure Houston's first championship.
Brad Peacock pitched a perfect seventh and Will Harris allowed one hit in the eighth before Collin McHugh took over. The starter-turned-reliever allowed a homer to Trey Mancini and a double to Colby Rasmus before retiring the last three batters.
Orioles starter Chris Tillman (0-1) was tagged for seven hits and four runs in four-plus innings in an uncharacteristically poor season debut. He entered with a 3-0 record and a 2.68 ERA in his first appearance of the year.
Houston jumped all over Tillman. George Springer and Alex Bregman began the first with consecutive doubles. Bregman advanced to third on a wild pitch before Jose Altuve, who was greeted with MVP chants on each trip to the plate, reached on a fielder's choice that left Bregman out at home. Tillman walked Josh Reddick with two outs, but he retired Gonzalez to end the inning.
Tillman had retired five in a row when Gonzalez sent a fastball into the seats in right field to begin the fourth. Brian McCann hit a one-out single and scored when a triple by Derek Fisher sailed just out of reach of Adam Jones.
Springer made it 4-0 with an RBI single in the fourth, and Altuve added a run-scoring double with two out in the sixth.
Jones had two hits for the Orioles, who have dropped three straight after winning their opener.
Astros All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa departed after the second inning with discomfort in his left big toe. He fouled a ball off that foot on Sunday but did not leave the game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Alex Cobb, who didn't sign with the team until March 21, will pitch Wednesday in extended spring training in Florida. Manager Buck Showalter said the team will make a decision after that on whether he'll join the rotation or wait another turn.
Astros: Houston will decide if 1B Yuli Gurriel, who had surgery on his left hand in February, will be activated or go on the disabled list on Tuesday. Gurriel took live batting practice on Monday and manager A.J. Hinch said they'd meet with the medical staff and see if he's ready to return. When Gurriel is healthy, he'll serve a five-game suspension for a racially insensitive gesture he made toward Yu Darvish during the 2017 World Series.
UP NEXT
Orioles: Mike Wright makes his first start since 2016 on Tuesday night. Wright appeared in 13 games last season and had a 5.76 ERA.
Astros: Justin Verlander (1-0, 0.0) takes the mound Tuesday night when the Astros receive their World Series rings. Verlander got the win in Houston's opener on Thursday, scattering four hits over six scoreless innings as the Astros downed the Rangers 4-1.
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