Orioles outlast Astros 4-2 in 11 innings for 6th consecutive victory

HOUSTON (AP) — Gunnar Henderson scored the tiebreaking run from second base on Tyler O’Neill’s infield single with two outs in the 11th inning, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Saturday for their sixth straight victory.

Baltimore’s winning streak is its longest since May 30 to June 5, 2025.

O’Neill beat the throw to first from second baseman Jose Altuve, allowing Henderson to score with ease. That left runners at first and second, and Leody Taveras followed with an RBI single off Enyel De Los Santos (0-3).

Yordan Alvarez hit a tying double for Houston in the bottom of the 10th, and the Astros loaded the bases with nobody out. But they failed to push across the winning run against Andrew Kittredge (1-1).

O’Neill threw out Nick Allen at the plate after catching Altuve’s flyball to shallow right field. With runners on second and third, LaMonte Wade Jr. tried to bunt for a hit and was thrown out at first.

Cam Sanders retired the side in order in the bottom of the 11th for his first major league save.

Orioles starter Trevor Rogers allowed one run and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings with a season-high eight strikeouts. He was removed with runners at the corners in the seventh, and Houston tied the score at 1 on Allen’s squeeze bunt against Rico Garcia.

Rogers has a 1.23 ERA over his last six starts.

Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti gave up one run and one hit in five innings. He issued four walks, one of which scored on Dylan Beavers’ double in the fourth.

Baltimore took a 2-1 lead in the 10th on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Jeremiah Jackson.

Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña left after a third-inning strikeout due to a right hamstring cramp, and first baseman Christian Walker exited during his at-bat in the fourth with right hip tightness. Astros manager Joe Espada said both will undergo imaging.

Houston has lost three straight and six of eight.

Orioles RHP Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61 ERA) faces RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 3.57) when the series concludes Sunday.

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Houston Astros' Christian Walker is taken back to the clubhouse by a trainer and manager Joe Espada without finishing his at bat against Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers delivers to Houston Astros' Isaac Paredes during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Astros' Nick Allen is tagged out at the plate by Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo as Jose Altuve flied into a double play during the tenth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Baltimore Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson hits a sacrifice bunt to score a run during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cam Sanders, left, celebrates with Pete Alonso, center, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, right, after a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Lionel Messi has quite a climb to catch Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot.

The Argentina superstar has won just about everything in soccer except for the award for being the leading scorer at the World Cup, and he’s now two behind Mbappé after the France striker upped his total to 10 goals in a wild third-place game.

Even if Messi can’t get there, a record-extending third Golden Ball as the tournament's best player seems well in reach after Sunday's World Cup final against Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

He’s already the only player to win the award multiple times since it was first given in 1978, and sparking Argentina's run to a second straight final at age 39 gives him a strong case for another.

“He is the history. He is the legend,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.

The other awards to be presented Sunday for performances at the World Cup are the Golden Glove for the top goalkeeper, and the Best Young Player Award, given to the top player 21 years old or younger.

Spain is in good shape to win at least one if not both of those, with Unai Simón allowing only one goal in seven games and 19-year-old Yamine Lamal providing the dazzle up front and showing why he is already considered one of the most promising players in the world.

Messi is at the other end of a career in which he’s won the Ballon d’Or, given to soccer's player of the year, a record eight times.

The Golden Boot has eluded him, but he had the lead going into the final two matches of this year's tournament. Both Messi and Mbappé had eight goals through the semifinals, but Messi owned the tiebreaker with one more assist.

Mbappé then scored twice Saturday in France’s 6-4 loss to England, making him the first player with 10 goals in a World Cup since Germany great Gerd Müller had 10 in 1970.

Mbappé also won the Golden Boot four years ago in Qatar, when France lost to Argentina in the final. This time, he could join players such as Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci in 1990, Croatia's Davor Suker in 1998 and Germany’s Thomas Müller in 2010 as players whose goals in a third-place game carried them to the Golden Boot.

Should Messi beat out Mbappé in an Argentina victory, he would be the first Golden Boot winner to play for the champion since Ronaldo scored eight goals when Brazil won the title in 2002.

He may not need any goals to secure another Golden Ball.

Messi won that trophy for the first time in 2014, when Argentina was the runner-up, and again in 2022 when his seven goals in seven games powered his country to its third title.

The Golden Ball, Golden Glove and the Best Young Player Award are voted on by members of the media from a list of players compiled by the FIFA Technical Study Group.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Referee Ivan Barton, of El Salvador, gestures to Spain's Lamine Yamal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

France's Kylian Mbappe (10) walks off the pttch after the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) reacts during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)