Tillman, Orioles unable to quiet potent Astros

BALTIMORE — The Astros took a two-run lead two batters into Saturday night’s game and never looked back as they scored double digits for the second straight night in a 12-2 rout of the Orioles at Camden Yards. Houston, which had lost five straight before Friday, has scored 27 runs over the past two games.

Houston moved to 4 1/2 games back of Baltimore for the second Wild Card spot in the American League. The Orioles dropped to 2 1/2 games back of Toronto in the AL East.

Alex Bregman jumped on Orioles starter Chris Tillman in the first inning, blasting a two-run homer for the Astros’ seventh long ball of the series. George Springer added the eighth with his own two-run shot in the fifth, his second in as many games, and Jason Castro hit the ninth, a solo shot in the ninth.

Tillman allowed 12 baserunners in two-plus innings, matching his rain-shortened season debut for his shortest start of the season. The O’s ace was 8-1 with a 3.74 ERA in 13 previous home starts before Saturday.

Astros righty Mike Fiers limited the Orioles to one run over seven innings. His lone blemish came in the fourth inning, when Chris Davis belted his 29th homer of the season. Steve Pearce, who came off the bench, hit his first homer since the Orioles acquired him at the non-waiver Trade Deadline, a solo shot off Brad Peacock in the eighth.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDTillman struggles: Tillman, making his first start since being scratched with shoulder discomfort, didn’t look like himself. The righty’s fastball velocity was down in the first inning and he routinely missed his spots. He walked the final three batters he faced before being pulled without …

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