Offense emerges, but O's can't hang with Astros

HOUSTON -- It was a rough night for Baltimore left fielder Trey Mancini and the Orioles, who despite finally breaking out of an offensive slump, still fell on the short end of a 10-6 final in Houston on Tuesday.
Mancini was twice robbed of hits by the Astros, including Josh Reddick's catch high above the right-field wall that turned a would-be three-run home run in the fourth inning into a sacrifice fly.
Mancini was also robbed of a hit in the sixth inning by a sparkling gem from third baseman Alex Bregman, who ranged into foul territory to throw out Mancini on a grounder down the line.

Defensively, Mancini was unable to haul in a fly ball in left field that resulted in Carlos Correa's first-inning inside-the-park, two-run homer off Mike Wright Jr.
Correa's sprint around the bases gave the Astros a 2-1 lead after Jonathan Schoop homered in the top of the frame -- the first run scored by the Orioles this season off an opposing starter -- to stake the Orioles to a 1-0 lead.

"That's my fault, I got to make that play," said Mancini, who went 0-for-3 a day after his ninth-inning home run at Minute Maid Park broke a 17-inning scoring drought for the Orioles. "It changes the whole complexion of the game. That's totally on me."
On Correa's second homer of the season, Mancini's glove arm hit the wall and the ball hit the top of his glove, limiting him from reaching up. He thought he had room to spare, but didn't.
The Orioles got untracked with their best offensive output of the season: six runs, 12 hits. Picking up three hits each were Schoop and Adam Jones, who hit the 250th homer of his Orioles career (fifth-best in club history), a two-run shot to left field in the sixth that gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead.
But the Orioles could only match the production of Reddick, who homered twice, including a seventh-inning grand slam off Nestor Cortes Jr. that turned a one-run Orioles deficit to a five-run deficit.
Wright got the no-decision in his five-inning effort, striking out out six.
"I was proud of Mike," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He gave us a good chance."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Foot race: Correa, who left Monday's home opener against the Orioles after two innings when he aggravated a bruised left big toe, tallied the Astros' first inside-the-park home run in 3 1/2 years in the first inning. Correa crushed a pitch to left-center field that glanced off the wall, traveling 378 feet. The ball caromed toward center field, allowing Correa to round the bases in 16.39 seconds and score standing up with a two-run homer.

"Obviously Correa's toe is OK," Showalter said.
You want him on that wall: Reddick, whose affinity for Spiderman leads him to wear leggings and shirts under his uniform featuring the superhero, did his best Spiderman impression in the fourth inning when he reached high above the right-field wall to rob Mancini of a three-run homer. The ball traveled 353 feet, according to Statcast™, but could have used at least a couple of more feet to clear Reddick's glove.

QUOTABLE
"I don't think I've ever seen a ball carry like it's carrying here right now. The ball Trey (Mancini) hit last night was well hit, but it carried out of the park. Reddick hit those balls pretty well." -- Showalter
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Jones' home run in the sixth inning was his fourth career homer off Justin Verlander, becoming one of eight Major League players to tag the Astros' right-hander for four or more homers. He joins Carlos Santana (8), Jim Thome (7), José Abreu (5), Alex Rodriguez (5), Jermaine Dye (4), Victor Martinez (4) and Joe Mauer (4).
WHAT'S NEXT
After having his start pushed back a day, Dylan Bundy gets the call in the finale of the three-game series, beginning at 2:10 p.m. ET. Bundy threw seven scoreless innings but got a no-decision in the Orioles' win over the Twins on Opening Day.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.