Everybody hits (literally!): Astros pour it on in Game 2 rout of O's

BALTIMORE -- With a potentially crushing doubleheader sweep a real possibility, Astros manager Joe Espada stuck with his plan to rest Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve in Game 2 on Thursday afternoon.

The rest of the lineup responded.

Yordan Alvarez drilled his MLB lead-tying 12th homer and had three hits, Cam Smith added a three-run shot and the Astros routed the Orioles, 11-5, in Game 2 on Thursday at Camden Yards to earn a split in their first doubleheader in nearly four years.

Rookie Dustin Harris drove in three -- two on a single that preceded Smith’s shot during a five-run first inning off O's starter Brandon Young -- as Houston tied a season high with 11 runs.

“It’s going to take the whole entire team,” Espada said of a team that is still struggling through a 6-17 stretch. “Those guys [Correa and Altuve] have been playing every day; they’re grinding through it. We need some of these other guys to come in and support, do some things on the bases, defensively. And those guys did that today.”

Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker and Yainer Diaz also drove in add-on runs as Houston avoided the sweep following a 10-3 defeat in Game 1. Every Astros starter had at least one hit, and eight of the nine scored a run.

As a group, the Space City offense outhit the O’s 27-12 across their first twin bill since July 21, 2022 -- a rare scheduled doubleheader at home against the Yankees.

Even as a disappointing April closes, the Astros still finished their 32nd game ranked fourth in MLB in runs scored (168), tied for third in runs driven in (159) and third in OPS (.784).

“This group, I haven’t been here that long, but you can tell it’s resilient,” said Harris, whom the Astros claimed off waivers from the White Sox on April 18. “One through nine, I don’t see how it would be a fun lineup to pitch to.”

Lance McCullers Jr. (2-2, 6.32 ERA) struck out nine over a season-high six innings, allowing only two hits and four walks. All three of his runs allowed came in the fourth before he recovered to ease the burden on a relief corps that allowed eight men to score while grinding through 3 2/3 innings in Game 1.

“I didn’t necessarily feel great during the game,” McCullers said. “And I think the lead helps. The lead definitely gives you some cushion. You’re able to maybe attack guys in a different manner. Challenge really great hitters in a slightly different manner.”

Houston’s first 16 hits of the day were singles, including Alvarez’s one-out knock to begin Game 2. Smith finally interrupted that streak when he drove Young’s 2-0 slider over the outer half a Statcast-projected 414 feet into the seats in right-center to put Houston ahead, 5-0.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t done my job for these past couple weeks,” said Smith, who entered Thursday on a 3-for-35 slide. “But yeah, it feels good. Use that for momentum.”

Alvarez followed suit an inning later, sending Young’s first-pitch offering to an almost identical spot. It was his 16th long ball of the season and pulled him even with the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and White Sox Munetaka Murakami atop the home run leaderboard.

Alvarez walked on four pitches in his third time facing Young to set the table for Houston's four-run fourth, then completed his three-hit game with a seventh-inning single.

During a season that Alvarez is slashing .356/.462/.737 with 27 RBIs, it was the kind of performance that almost felt guaranteed after his 0-for-4 effort in Game 1 halted a career-high-tying 13-game hitting streak.

“Hopefully, we’re not playing that many doubleheaders,” Espada quipped. “But [Alvarez] figures stuff out, man. He just knows what he needs to do quickly to make an adjustment and then get back to getting positive results.”