BALTIMORE – The Orioles should not be overrun. Not even by world champions.

Baltimore avoided another potential sweep by defeating Houston, 5-4, in the series finale on Thursday afternoon at Camden Yards. Dean Cramer pulled in seven solid innings while getting offensive support from Orioles catchers – Adley Rutschman (2-for-4 with his first career home run and two RBIs) and James McCann (2-for-3 with a double and an RBI) – and Ryan Mountcastle , who stayed hot by hitting a two-run homer.

It marks the 76th consecutive multi-game series in which the O’s have not been swept, a run dating back to when they lost three in Detroit from May 13-15 last season. According to the Elias Sports Office, this is the fourth longest streak in AL/NL history.

Most consecutive multi-game series without being swept
1. 1942-44 Cardinals: 125
2. 1903-05 Giants: 106
3. 1922-24 Yankees: 83
4. 2022-present Orioles: 76

The Orioles, who dropped the first two games of a three-game series to the Astros, avoided being swept with a final win for the seventh time this season. They’ve done it before against the Rangers (May 28), Brewers (June 8), Cubs (June 18), Rays (June 21), Twins (July 2) and Dodgers (July 19).

Houston may be among the best teams in baseball annually, but that didn’t stop Cramer from finding success against the club. The 27-year-old right-hander allowed just two runs on Thursday (singles by Yainer Diaz and Jose Altuve), and now has a 1.14 ERA in three career starts versus the Astros — each pitching Kramer in at least seven innings.

Altove’s two-run home run in the seventh cut Baltimore’s lead to 3-2, before giving Mountcastle some breathing room with their 15th home run of the year and their second in three days. The 26-year-old first baseman is 19-for-41 (. 463) during his 12-game hitting streak.