After closing to within two games of .500 and two games of first place in the American League West as recently as July 7, the Houston Astros recorded their fifth loss in six games on Saturday while also losing a pair of starters to injury.

The Astros' 4-2 extra-inning setback to the visiting Baltimore Orioles resulted in a third consecutive series defeat. The premature departures of shortstop Jeremy Pena (right hamstring) and first baseman Christian Walker (right hip) added injury to insult for a club that has again hit the skids after making so much progress climbing back into contention.

"I'm looking at the effort; I'm looking at the intensity," Astros manager Joe Espada said. "I'm looking at the commitment to winning, our attitude. That's what we want.

"If we continue to do this, things will turn around."

Right-hander Hunter Brown (1-0, 3.57 ERA) is set to start the series finale for the Astros on Sunday.

Brown has not recorded a decision across five starts since returning from a two-plus-month stint on the injured list (shoulder) on June 16. In those outings, he has a 4.74 ERA with 22 strikeouts against 16 walks in 24 2/3 innings.

Brown allowed three runs on four hits and five walks with four strikeouts over six innings in the Astros' 7-3 loss to the Texas Rangers on July 10.

He is 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Orioles. In his previous start against Baltimore on Aug. 23, 2024, he did not factor into the decision of a 7-5 loss after allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with six strikeouts in six innings.

In a post-game decision on Saturday, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz tabbed right-hander Brandon Young (7-2, 3.42 ERA) to start the series finale.

Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61) was scheduled to make the start, but the club came to terms on a five-year, $90 million contract extension with the right-hander on Saturday and Albernaz pushed him back one day to face Boston on Monday.

Young, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on April 6, has solidified the Orioles rotation after Zach Elfin (elbow surgery) and Chris Bassitt (back surgery) went down with injuries. He has pitched at least five innings in nine consecutive starts and took a no-decision after allowing three earned runs in seven innings against the Kansas City Royals on July 10.

Young, who hails from Lumberton, Texas, just 95 miles from Houston, came close to throwing a no-hitter versus the Astros last Aug.15. He retired the first 23 batters of the game, but had a perfect game and no-hitter broken up on Ramon Urias' infield single with two outs in the eighth inning.

Subsequently, Young allowed 17 runs (11 earned) over 9 1/3 innings in home losses to Houston on Aug. 21, 2025 and April 30 of this season.

Two free passes, a stolen base and an infield single played vital roles in the Orioles' victory on Saturday. Albernaz highlighted the potential for his club to succeed in a multitude of ways, and the Orioles displayed that skill set while securing the three-game series.

"Our best games offensively are when we're running the bases well," Albernaz said. "Going first to third, taking the extra 90 (feet), being able to steal bags when we have to.

"That's what I talk about: diverse offense. It's doing those little things and our guys' ability to bunt for hits and (sacrifices). We haven't had many opportunities for that, but when it is, we do a good job of getting them down. It's just the ability to win games in a variety of different ways."

--Field Level Media