Pearce keeps producing and Cruz sets club record (O's win 4-1)

HOUSTON - Steve Pearce has thrown out a runner at second base today and walked to force in the go-ahead run. He's a professional hitter and fielder. Pearce registered the Orioles' 11th outfield assist this year when he nabbed Marwin Gonzalez trying to stretch a single into a double in the fourth. He walked with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie. Manny Machado reached on an infield single, his second hit in his last 19 at-bats. Caleb Joseph singled with two outs, his second hit in 27 at-bats this season. Nick Markakis walked with two outs, and so did Pearce. Nelson Cruz worked the count full and also walked to increase the lead to 3-1 and give him a club-record 51 RBIs before the end of May. Cruz doubled in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. He's 19-for-41 (.463) in that stretch. Astros starter Dallas Keuchel hadn't permitted an earned run in two of his last four starts. He issued one walk over his last four starts totaling 34 1/3 innings. Chris Tillman has thrown 65 pitches in four innings today. He needed only nine to make it through the first. Tillman has hit two batters, walked one and thrown a wild pitch, but he's surrendered only one run. He hit one batter in his first 11 starts before today. According to a tweet from @DavidHallVP, veteran reliever Heath Bell will take his second opt-out if he's not in the majors next Saturday. Bell has allowed five runs (four earned) and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings at Triple-A Norfolk, with six walks anad five strikeouts. Update: Tillman turned in his fifth quality start by holding the Astros to one run and four hits over 6 2/3 innings, with two walks, three strikeouts, two wild pitches and two hit batters. He threw 110 pitches, 67 for strikes. Cruz just hit his 20th home run to expand the lead to 4-1 in the eighth inning. Cruz has three RBIs today, giving him 52 this season to go with a .315 average. He's on pace for 60 homers. The ball easily cleared the 404 sign in left-center field. Update: Game over, and so is a four-game losing streak. The Orioles beat the Astros today, 4-1, before 29,619 at Minute Maid Park. Zach Britton picked up his fourth save in five opportunities after Ryan Webb retired all four batters he faced. Webb threw 11 of his 14 pitches for strikes. Britton gave up a leadoff single to Matt Dominguez before getting a called third strike and double play. He has one clean inning in his last six appearances. The Orioles (27-27) are back at .500 entering Sunday's series finale, with Wei-Yin Chen opposing Scott Feldman.