Spencer Arrighetti led the Houston Astros to a 6-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, outperforming Corbin Burnes on Thursday night. Arrighetti allowed only three hits in six innings, striking out six batters. On the other hand, Burnes struggled, giving up five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. Ben Gamel, in his debut game with the Astros after being acquired from the New York Mets, contributed with two RBIs in the fourth and sixth innings when all of Houston’s runs were scored. The victory extended the Astros’ lead in the AL West to 5 1/2 games, marking their ninth consecutive road win.

The Astros have shown a remarkable turnaround since their slow start this season, going 62-39 since their initial 7-19 record. In contrast, Burnes faced difficulties with eight hits, all singles, clustered in key innings that allowed the Astros to capitalize on the scoring opportunities. This win further solidifies Houston’s position ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West, a notable improvement since being 10 games behind in June.

The Orioles, on the other hand, fell further behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees after this defeat. In terms of player updates, Astros’ Alex Bregman continued in the DH spot due to an elbow injury, with a possibility of playing at 1B in the future according to Manager Joe Espada. Orioles’ Manager Brandon Hyde mentioned that RHP Zach Eflin is on track to return from a shoulder injury in early September.

Looking ahead, Hunter Brown will start for the Astros on Friday night against Baltimore rookie Cade Povich. Brown, with an 11-7 record, has been in excellent form with a 2.33 ERA since June. This win propels the Astros to a season-high lead in the AL West, showcasing their dominance in the division.