hank conger

The Orioles won both ends of their rain-makeup doubleheader against the slumping Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at Camden Yards.

On Friday night, Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo looked like he might not get out of the first inning against a light-hitting Tampa Bay Rays lineup.

Center fielder Adam Jones¿ solo homer in the eighth off reliever Chad Qualls gave the Orioles a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros, ending their five-game losing streak and avoiding a four-game sweep on the first stop of a two-city, seven-game road trip.

HOUSTON ¿ As the Orioles complete their four-game series at Minute Maid Park this afternoon, the they hope to avoid being swept in the four-game series for the first time since Sept. 20-23, 2013, a series in Tampa Bay that all but killed their playoff hopes two years ago.

There will be a lot of Tuesday morning quarterbacking today after last night's 5-2 Orioles loss at Minute Maid Park.

Ubaldo Jimenez walked off the mound with a one-run lead, but saw usually dependable reliever Brad Brach blow the lead and the Astros rally for a gut-punch four-run seventh inning, handing the Orioles a 5-2 loss.

On Tuesday night, Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez shut down the highest scoring lineup in the major leagues for seven innings and fell one out short of his third straight eight-inning outing in a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels in front of an announced 35,353.

In Monday night's series opener against the Los Angeles Angels, Adam Jones hit a pair of two-run homers for his fifth career multihomer game, providing the Orioles with all the offense they needed in a 4-2 victory at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Leading 4-2 in the seventh, Orioles reliever Pedro Strop allowed a three-run triple to Angels No. 9 hitter Erick Aybar that sparked a six-run inning and quickly changed the momentum of the game.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said there is a simple key to competing with the slugging teams of the American League, clubs that seemingly can score at will: Play excellent defense.

With the chance to add to a 2-1 lead with the Orioles' top hitters due up, left fielder Nate McLouth took off from first base in an attempt to steal his 23rd base of the year.

Chris Tillman's homecoming was a memorable one as he turned in one of his most dominating starts of his big league career, allowing just three hits over eight scoreless innings to lead the Orioles to a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of this four-game series.

Stephen Strasburg surrendered three hits over two innings -- including a single and home run to the first two batters he faced -- in his first action since Sept. 7.

Orioles knock off Angels 8-3 behind Tommy Hunter's seven shutout innings