O's game blog: Wade Miley looks for first O's win as Orioles host Houston

When they got swept in a three-game series at Houston in late May, the Orioles scored seven runs in three games with three homers among 24 hits and with a major league record 52 strikeouts for a three-game series. Last night was very different. They beat Houston 13-5, going 18-for-40 with five strikeouts and six home runs. The club had a season-high nine extra-base hits and tied the season high for runs.

The six homers marked the sixth time this season that Baltimore has hit at least five home runs in a game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the highest single-season total in 20 years since Oakland produced seven five-homer games in 1996 and the Orioles had six, setting a team record.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy, batting ninth in the batting order, hit two home runs and a double in Thursday's win. Per Elias, Hardy is the second Orioles player to have three extra-base hits, including two homers, from the bottom of the batting order in a game. Hardy joins pitcher Jack Harshman, who went 3-for-3 with two home runs and a double against the Washington Senators on Sept. 23, 1958.

The Orioles lead the American League and rank second in the majors with 40 wins at home. At 40-19 (.678), the Orioles lead the AL and rank second in the majors with the best home record. The club's 96 home runs at home lead the majors.

The Orioles and Astros have two of the top bullpen ERAs in the majors:

3.10 - Nationals
3.17 - Dodgers
3.20 - Orioles
3.27 - Royals
3.43 - Astros

On the mound tonight at Camden Yards, left-hander Wade Miley (7-10, 5.23 ERA) faces right-hander Collin McHugh (7-10, 4.70 ERA) in the second game of a four-game series.

In three Orioles starts, Miley is 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA. He has one quality start and the team is 1-2 in his outings. Miley has pitched 15 1/3 innings with his new team, allowing 22 hits and a .328 average against with five walks and eight strikeouts. He gave up seven runs (six earned) and eight hits over 4 1/3 innings Sunday. The Orioles' late-inning comeback took him off the hook for a loss.

In two starts earlier this season for Seattle against Houston, Miley is 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA. Over 12 2/2 innings, he has given up 12 hits and four runs with four walks to seven strikeouts. In six career starts, he is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA versus Houston.

McHugh gave up 10 hits and eight runs in just 1 2/3 innings on July 29 against Detroit. In three starts since, he is 0-3 with a 4.42 ERA. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his past 11 starts and in 13 of 16. He has recorded a quality start in eight of his past 11 games.

McHugh got a no-decision versus the Orioles on May 25 at Houston, going 5 1/3 and allowing eight hits and three runs with one walk and 10 strikeouts. In four career starts against Baltimore, he is 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA.

Left fielder Hyun Soo Kim registered a career-high four hits last night, including his first major league triple in the fourth inning. He has reached base safely in 15 of his last 17 games with a plate appearance, batting .328/.394/.438 (21-for-64) with six walks, two doubles, a triple, a home run, nine runs and three RBIs in that stretch.

Third baseman Manny Machado has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, batting .327/.345/.673 (18-for-55) with four doubles, five home runs, 12 runs and 14 RBIs since August 5.