BALTIMORE -- Through myriad major injuries and some extended stretches of underperformance by some key players, the Astros somehow just roll on. Some have said in the last few years that Houston is “inevitable,” but it certainly didn’t feel that way when the club was 10 games out of first place in the American League West on June 18.

Thursday night’s 6-0 win over the Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards -- the Astros’ ninth consecutive road win -- was a perfect example of the winning culture that Houston has sustained for nearly a decade, a run that has included seven consecutive trips to the ALCS, four pennants and two World Series titles.

Rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti -- called up from the Minor Leagues early in the season because of a wave of injuries in the rotation -- threw six scoreless innings to outduel Corbin Burnes, and newcomer Ben Gamel drove in two runs, as did No. 14 prospect Shay Whitcomb, to send the Astros to their 12th win in their past 15 games.

“This team finds a way to stay in the fight,” manager Joe Espada said. “It’s something that has been here since I first got here, and for us to maintain that, there’s a lot of people involved that … have helped us sustain this winning culture. My job is to try to keep everyone healthy and motivate the boys to play, and they’re doing a really good job.”

Arrighetti combined with Shawn Dubin (two innings) and Caleb Ferguson (one inning) for a three-hit shutout against an Orioles team fighting for the best record in the AL. Neither Arrighetti, Gamel, Whitcomb, Dubin nor Ferguson were even on Houston’s Opening Day roster, which is a testament to the Astros’ process.

“The veterans, the older guys setting the environment and the culture here in the clubhouse just creates a nice environment to come in and feel comfortable that you can go out there and compete every day,” said Whitcomb, who filled in for the banged-up Alex Bregman at third base and capped the scoring with a two-run single in the sixth.

Then there’s Gamel, claimed off waivers from the Mets -- his seventh Major League team -- on Tuesday, contributing to the cause with a pair of RBI singles two days later in his first appearance in a Houston uniform. He played right field, as All-Star starter Kyle Tucker has been out for two and a half months with a shin injury.

“I watched many celebrations from across the field,” Gamel said. “I’m happier to be wearing the blue and orange.”

Arrighetti struck out six batters and allowed three hits while walking one batter for the Astros, who have opened up a 5 1/2-game lead over the Mariners in the AL League West -- their largest division lead of the season. Seattle was off Thursday and dismissed manager Scott Servais after Houston blew past it in the standings.

“I know we’ve got a good amount of games left still, but every time you’re playing a team that’s fighting for first in their division and you’re fighting for first in your division, it always feels big,” Arrighetti said. “I think for the most part, it’s another game and we’re going to attack the same way.”

With five starting pitchers on the injured list and out for the year, Arrighetti has risen to the challenge in an up-and-down rookie season. He struck out 25 total batters in consecutive starts against the Rays (Aug. 4) and Red Sox (Aug. 10) but gave up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings Friday in a loss to the last-place White Sox.

The Orioles got one baserunner in each of the first four innings against Arrighetti, who sent down the final eight batters he faced to finish at 94 pitches (60 strikes).

“I feel like I left some pitches over the plate to some really good hitters, and that’s what they’re going to do,” he said. “Over the course of the game, I kind of found a rhythm a little bit and I was able to execute more with two strikes than I was early in the game, and I feel that became a big difference for me.”

Arrighetti said his sweeper was more effective to lefties than to righties Thursday, which was key considering Baltimore had five lefties and two switch-hitters in the lineup.

“Give Arrighetti credit, that’s a really good arm, and I thought he pitched us extremely tough,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “We did nothing offensively the whole night, only hit a couple balls hard. Tough to win when you only get three hits."