Houston, TX — Baltimore rookie Brandon Young put on the performance of his life Friday night, coming within four outs of perfection in a dazzling 7–0 victory over the Houston Astros.

Pitching just a short drive from his hometown of Lumberton, the 25-year-old right-hander was nearly untouchable. Young retired the first 23 batters he faced, carving through Houston’s lineup with pinpoint fastballs and sharp breaking stuff. But with two outs in the eighth inning, history slipped away on a softly hit roller down the third base line.

Former Oriole Ramón Urías, playing his first game against Baltimore since last month’s trade, chopped a 56 mph grounder that forced Young to make an off-balance throw to first. The ball pulled the baseman off the bag, and Urías was credited with Houston’s lone hit of the night.

Young didn’t flinch. He struck out the next hitter to finish the eighth, closing his career-best outing at eight innings with six strikeouts. Reliever Yaramil Hiraldo handled the ninth, locking down Baltimore’s first one-hitter since May 2024.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Young, who had stumbled through his first 10 major league starts with an 0–6 record and a 6.70 ERA.

Baltimore’s Bats Deliver Support
While Young kept Houston quiet, the Orioles’ offense provided steady support.

Colby Mayo opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a two-out solo blast off Astros starter Framber Valdez. Baltimore added two more runs in the fifth, one on Gunnar Henderson’s sacrifice fly and another on a throwing error by Jesús Sánchez.

Henderson drove in another run in the seventh, and Dylan Carlson broke the game wide open an inning later with a two-run homer as part of a three-run frame. The outburst gave the Orioles a 7–0 cushion, more than enough for Young’s gem.

Valdez (11–6) was tagged with the loss, surrendering nine hits and four runs (three earned) over 6 2/3 innings. The Astros’ offense, meanwhile, managed just one baserunner all night and now hold only a half-game lead over the Mariners in the AL West.