More on Bradish's big night, the pitchers dial it up and Trey's reunion

HOUSTON – Behind a pitching staff that seems to be finding a higher gear in recent days, the Orioles have pulled off, on back-to-back days, two of their most impressive wins during a year filled with such games.

The latest surprising result was their 2-0 shutout of Houston Friday night in front of 31,035 at Minute Maid Park. The Astros were held to four singles. The same Astros that began the night with the best record in the American League at 81-45 and with a seven-game home win streak. The same team that is 42-18 at home this year and 27-8 in their last 35 at home.

The Orioles (66-59) moved seven games over the .500 mark for the first time since May 22, 2017. 

O’s starting pitchers have their first back-to-back outings of seven innings or more all year, and right-hander Kyle Bradish threw an O’s season-high eight innings, allowing two hits on 96 pitches. He did that against one of the best offenses in baseball, and when the coaches checked on him when he was at 85 pitches after seven innings, he told them he wanted to keep going.

“They asked how I felt and I was like, ‘I’m just getting started,'" Bradish said. "Felt really good, velo was still there. Means a lot showcasing my ability against the best team."

Bradish had good stuff throughout the night and said mid-game the quality of his pitches sharpened up even further, and he knew he was in for a game where he could go deep.

“Fastball was really good. Had good life, both sides of the plate, and slider was good early and then it got a lot better as the game went on. I think my fastball was playing up a lot and that helps the slider and then was working with the changeup, too, to get some backdoor chase on that one,” he said.

O’s pitchers have recorded three straight quality starts, allowing three earned runs over 21 innings. They have five QS the past 10 games with a rotation ERA of 2.70 in that span. They produced four straight quality starts over one stretch in early May and they can match that tonight. 

While the bats have produced only six runs the last two games, the Orioles went 2-0 as their pitchers allowed two earned runs over 20 innings. And the staff has allowed three runs or less in seven of the last 11 games.

Yep, another gear.

The game would end with righty Dillon Tate finding a nice gear of his own with a three-pitch strikeout of Trey Mancini with two runners on base. It was high drama and Tate won the battle.

“It’s one of those things, it can’t be written up any better than that,” Tate said. “I had kind of been thinking about that for a few weeks and didn’t know how it was going to play out. Just funny that I found myself on the mound face-to-face with him. It was pretty crazy.

“I really didn’t have much time to think. You know, it was just, we need to win the game. Let’s get this guy and be on our way. So, everything happened really, really fast to be honest.”

Added Ramón Urías, who hit a two-run shot, his 14^th homer, in the sixth inning: “It was one of those moments where we are not thinking he is our friend right now. We’re trying to win every game, so in that moment we are competing and trying to get that win. I have so much respect for Trey but in that moment we are just trying to win the ballgame.”

Mancini pregame: Even though his team was shutout last night and he made the last out, Mancini is enjoying the smaller ballpark in Houston. He’s hit six homers in 19 games with his new team after producing just 10 in 92 games for the Orioles. His OPS was .751 with the Orioles and is .794 after Friday’s game, where he went 0-for-3 with a walk.

Before the game in the Houston clubhouse he said hello to some media friends from Baltimore and told us he didn’t think the game would be that emotional for him.

“I’ve already gone and talked to a ton of the guys and staff over there so it’s emotional in that sense, but it’s just great to see my friends again and people that I care about a lot," he said. "But at the same time, it’s just another baseball game, you know. You want to put your best foot forward, but for now it’s great to see all the guys again and reunite.

“It was a dream come true for me to play there, having a lot of family from the area there in Maryland. You know, especially when I was sick, the community, the organization and the fans all rallied around me. That is something that will always be there. That relationship will always be so strong. Just had such a great time there.”

Now he has settled in nicely with his new teammates in Houston.

“I’ve felt welcomed with open arms from the second I got traded here. I’ve fit in really well. It’s been a great transition, easier than I could have ever imagined honestly," said Mancini.