HOUSTON — Baltimore Orioles All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman missed Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Houston Astros with left wrist discomfort, and his replacement, Samuel Basallo, left in the second inning because of right shoulder discomfort.
Manager Craig Albernaz did not disclose how Rutschman injured his wrist or how long he might be out, only that he wanted to avoid playing him on Sunday.
Rutschman is batting .251 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 67 games this season. He was named to his third American League All-Star team.
After catching the bottom of the first inning, Basallo grounded out to first base to begin the second.
“It’s just been a lingering thing, and obviously, it just aggravated today,” Albernaz said.
Sam Huff, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, replaced Basallo behind the plate and was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Basallo, 21, is batting .241 with 16 home runs and 46 RBIs in his first full major league season.
The Orioles matched their longest winning streak since 2023.
Brandon Young allowed one run over seven innings and Coby Mayo homered.
Young (8-2) allowed five hits and one walk while striking out seven, which is one less than his season high. Yordan Alvarez’s third-inning RBI double accounted for the only run he allowed.
With Young out of the game, Rico Garcia allowed a solo home run to Jose Altuve in the eighth inning. Grant Wolfram pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first major league save.
Gunnar Henderson gave Baltimore the lead with a third-inning RBI single. He made it 2-0 later in the frame when he stole home on a double steal.
The Orioles finished with a season-high four stolen bases.
Leody Taveras increased Baltimore’s lead to 4-1 with a broken bat, two-run single in the fifth inning.
Mayo added his solo homer in the sixth.
Dylan Beavers was 2 for 4 with a double.
Houston starter Hunter Brown (1-1) allowed four runs on three hits over 4 2/3 innings. He issued a career-high six walks and hit two batters.
Astros pitching combined for seven walks and four hit batters.
Houston has lost four straight games and seven of its last nine.
Up next
Astros RHP Ronel Blanco makes his season debut against Marlins RHP Janson Junk (4-5 4.57 ERA) in the first game of a three-game series Monday night in Houston.
Orioles RHP Shane Baz (4-9, 4.19) starts against Red Sox LHP Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.11) in the first game of a three-game series Monday night in Boston.
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