*Photo from Yahoo Sports*
Everything can change with one swing of the bat in baseball. Jeremy Pena drove in a run, Kyle Tucker hit a grand slam, and the Houston Astros defeated the Baltimore Orioles with a 7-6 victory on Tuesday night in Baltimore.
The Astros have now won two in a row and 7 of 10 with this series opening win. They were led on offense by Tucker, who drove in 5 of the 7 runs scored by the Astros, with no hit bigger than his go ahead grand slam in the 9th inning.
Tucker said of his grand slam that "I was just trying to get something over the plate and just kind of grind through it. I was just able to catch one out in front and time it well and put a good swing on it. That was a tough at-bat, but I found a way to come out of it on top."
Ryan Mountcastle gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two run home run to left center field. In the second inning, Ramon Urias scored on a fielders choice and Adley Rutschman blasted a two run home run, giving the Orioles a 5-0 lead. Tucker drove in a run in the 3rd inning with an RBI single.
Yainer Diaz added another run in the 3rd with a sac fly that scored Alex Bregman to make it a 5-2 game. A sac fly in the 4th by James McCann put the Orioles back ahead by 4, a 6-2 score. In the 8th inning, Pena cut the deficit to 6-3 with an RBI single. That set the stage for Tucker in the 9th, who hit a go ahead game winning grand slam to put the Astros ahead by a 7-6 score.
Astros manager Dusty Baker said of Tucker's grand slam "That was a determination at-bat. That's what hitting is all about: it's about determination and want and desire and concentration, and Tuck had all of the above. He fouled off some real tough pitches, stayed off some tough pitches and got a pitch that he could hit and didn't miss it. A lot of times you get your pitch, you foul it back or something. He squared it up, and boy, that was a beautiful sight."
Framber Valdez started for the Astros, allowing 6 runs on 8 hits and two walks in 7 innings pitched, getting a no decision. Ryne Stanek got the win with a scoreless 8th and Ryan Pressly closed it out to get his 27th save of the season.
Grayson Rodriguez allowed two runs on 6 hits and two walks in 6 innings for the Orioles. Mike Baumann allowed one run in one inning of work before Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless inning. Felix Bautista got the loss and blown save in the 9th, requiring Joey Krehbiel to finish the inning.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that "Bautista is not going to be perfect, which he really has been for almost the entire season. Tip your hat to Alvarez driving that ball off the wall in center, and then Tucker with an incredible at-bat off him, fouling off a ton of pitches and handling a fastball and hitting it into the seats."
Up next, the series continues on Wednesday night. Cristian Javier starts for the Astros as they go for the series win, while the Orioles look to tie the series as Jack Flaherty takes the mound.
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