Andrew Cashner worked six solid innings, Anthony Santander produced a sparkling defensive play, and Trey Mancini scored the go-ahead run on an error in the eighth inning as the Baltimore Orioles scratched out a 4-1 victory over the host Houston Astros on Saturday.

The Orioles will go for the series victory Sunday in the rubber match. Baltimore is 0-11-1 in its last 12 series while the Astros are 9-0-1 over their last 10.

The Orioles needed Cashner at his best and, when he faltered a bit in the sixth inning, Santander provided timely support.

Cashner had allowed only three baserunners through five scoreless innings before Derek Fisher and Alex Bregman reached on successive singles to open the sixth. Cashner erased Bregman when he induced a fielder's choice ground ball from Michael Brantley, but followed by surrendering a deep drive to right-center field off the bat of Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel.

Santander tracked the fly ball and robbed Gurriel of a three-run homer before firing a throw to first base to double off Brantley, who drifted perilously away from the bag.

Fisher scored just prior to the inning-ending double play to tie the game, but Santander set the table for the rally in the eighth when Mancini, who followed a Hanser Alberto leadoff double off Astros reliever Will Harris (1-1) with a bloop single to right, scored on an errant throw by shortstop Jack Mayfield.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Orioles shortstop Richie Martin added some insurance with a two-run home run off Houston right-hander Reymin Guduan. For Martin, it was his third homer.

Cashner allowed one run on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts over six innings. His counterpart for the Astros, left-hander Framber Valdez, pitched exceptionally in his first start of the season following 14 relief appearances.

Valdez allowed a solo home run to Renato Nunez, his 16th, with one out in the sixth but worked seven strong innings. He posted seven strikeouts and surrendered five hits without issuing a walk. Valdez threw 84 pitches, 57 for strikes.

Left-hander Paul Fry (1-3) earned the win in relief for the Orioles. Miguel Castro notched his second save.

--Field Level Media