HOUSTON -- Bud Norris had the best performance of the season for Houstons beleaguered pitching staff, and it helped the Astros take a series from a division foe. Norris pitched into the ninth inning and Chris Carter homered for the second straight game to help the Astros to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night. The victory gives Houston its third series win of the season. The Angels dropped to 4-13 away from Anaheim. Norris is the first Astros pitcher to reach the eighth inning this season and the performance was much-needed on a staff that has been plagued by short outings. Houstons pitchers have combined for a 5.62 ERA, which is the highest in the majors. "I really hope that the rest of the starters take heed of what can happen when you attack the strike zone," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "We have a pretty good defence and when you make the other team feel like they have to swing early in the count (and) put the ball in play (and) allow our defence to play, we get starts like we got tonight from Bud Norris." Marwin Gonzalez and Jimmy Paredes hit RBI doubles in the third before Carter connected on his team-leading eighth homer in the fifth inning to make it 3-0. Norris (4-3) allowed nine hits and one run in eight-plus innings. The eight innings tied a career high for Norris, who was disappointed he was pulled after consecutive singles by Mike Trout and Albert Pujols to start the ninth. "Its a little frustrating when you put in the work to go out there and try to pitch nine innings and I was very close -- again," he said. "Its happened a few times, but thats OK. The wins are more important to me and for this team and where were going and thats a No. 1 priority." Closer Jose Veras retired Mark Trumbo before plunking Josh Hamilton to load the bases. But Houston turned its fourth double play of the game to end it and give Veras his fourth save. Angels starter Joe Blanton (0-6) allowed eight hits and three runs in 6 2-3 innings to remain winless this season. The slumping Hamilton broke a 20-game home run drought when he launched a solo homer into the seats in left field with one out in the seventh to get Los Angeles within 3-1. It was his first homer since April 14, and came exactly a year after he hit four homers in a game against Baltimore. The Angels are 11-22 overall, tying their worst start in franchise history. They had the same record after 33 games in 1969 and 1976. "When were not doing enough offensively, it comes down to getting breaks, and they havent been falling our way," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "You have to create your own breaks, your own momentum and your own margin of error, and that all comes on doing things on a more consistent basis." Matt Dominguez hit a ground-rule double that bounced on the low wall in right field with one out in the third inning. The play was reviewed after Porter argued it was a home run, but the call was upheld. Dominguez advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double to shallow left field by Gonzalez to give Houston a 1-0 lead. Paredes made it 2-0 with a two-out RBI double which sailed down the right field line just out of reach of a leaping Trumbo and into right field. Paredes, who played his first game with the Astros on Tuesday after being promoted from Triple-A, also doubled in the eighth inning. He has three doubles and two RBIs in two games. "Hes a guy that we know can add some excitement to our ballclub," Porter said of Paredes. "Its a combination of speed, its power. I think this guy; hes turned the corner and allowed his ability to play. Its a joy to watch." Jason Castro drew a one-out walk after the double by Paredes in the eighth. Pinch hitter Trevor Crowe reached on a fielders choice on a bunt and Paredes was thrown out at home on the play. Carter led off Houstons fifth with his towering shot, which bounced high on the wall above the Crawford Boxes in left field to push the lead to 3-0. The Astros, who lead the majors with 46 double plays, turned them in the first, fifth and eighth innings to help out Norris. The fourth inning ended when Trumbo got caught stealing second base. NOTES: The series wraps up on Thursday when Houstons Lucas Harrell opposes left-hander Jason Vargas. ... Los Angeles reliever Ryan Madson, who missed all of last season after Tommy John surgery, is heading to Arizona for extended spring training. Scioscia said hell probably pitch in two games there before moving to the California League to continue his work. "Obviously the process is not complete with Ryan, hes got to see how he bounces back, see how his stuff plays, and its definitely going to take some higher baseball to accomplish that," Scioscia said. ... The Astros took struggling starter Philip Humber out of the rotation and replaced him with Dallas Keuchel, who will start on Friday against Texas. W... Bynum Authentic Jersey .J. -- New York Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress, kick returner Joe McKnight and safety Brodney Pool did not practise Wednesday as the team prepares for its game Sunday night against the New England Patriots. . -- Lake Louise has been given the green light from skiings world governing body to hold the first World Cup downhill races of the season. [url=http://www.authenticpistonsstore.com/womens-brandon-jennings-basketball-jer... ., was in medal contention until the last round at the third stop on the FINA World Series diving circuit on Saturday before having to settle for fifth in the womens three-metre final. 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"It was the kind of a game where you felt like you had to outscore them," McLouth said. "The ball was flying, and theyre a really good hitting team." Seattle and Baltimore started the game ranked 1-2 in percentage of runs scored via the home run. This game bared out that statistic. Davis and Ryan Flaherty hit solo shots prior to McLouths first career slam. Seattle got a two-run homer from Michael Saunders and solo drives from Kendrys Morales, Michael Morse and Humberto Quintero. "It was kind of one of those nights, both teams swinging the bats well," Davis said. "It just seemed like it was going to be a battle of the offences all night. One of those games where you feel like you cant score enough runs, no matter how many you put up there, they come back." McLouth connected off Brandon Maurer to make it 11-6 in the sixth, and that was just enough offence to fend off the Mariners. McLouths homer followed three straight singles off Maurer, who entered after starter Aaron Harang (5-10) struggled through five shaky innings. "If you look back, a lot of those pitches were over the heart of the plate," Seattle acting manager Robby Thompson said. "If you do that to this club here, youre going to run into some problems." Jim Johnson worked the ninth to earn his 38th save and secure the victory for Chris Tillman (14-3). Davis drove a pitch from Harang over the right-field wall and onto Eutaw Street to give Baltimore a 5-3 lead in the third inning. The solo homer travelled an estimated 442 feet and gave Davis a major-league high 101 RBIs. He is the fifth Oriole to hit 40 homers in a season, joining Brady Anderson (50), Frank Robinson (49), Jim Gentile (46) and Rafael Palmeiro (43). "Its pretty good company to be in," Davis said. "Im proud of the way things are going this year. Still got a lot more work to do, but its nice to be a big part of a winning team." Adam p;Jones had three RBIs for Baltimore, which has won 10 of its past 12 against Seattle.dddddddddddd Tillman gave up a season high-tying six runs, as well as eight hits and three walks. But the right-hander improved to 5-0 in five career starts against the team that traded him along with Jones to the Orioles in 2008. "Its an offensive night," Tillman said. "Our guys did their job, and I give credit to their guys, too. They hit some good pitches and they battled." Morales went 4 for 4 and has 13 hits in his past 17 at-bats. But the Mariners have dropped four in a row and six of eight. "We did a nice job offensively tonight," Thompson said. "We put up some runs, but unfortunately we were playing catch-up all night long." Harang allowed seven runs and seven hits. On Thursday night, the Mariners allowed six runs in the bottom of the ninth in an 8-7 loss to Boston. Thompson addressed his young team before this game to make sure there would be no carry-over. "Its over and done with," Thompson said. "I want to make sure we forget about it ... and move forward." They didnt. After going down in order with two strikeouts in the top of the first inning, Seattle promptly fell into a 4-0 hole. McLouth singled and Harang issued two straight walks before Jones doubled in two runs, and another scored when left fielder Raul Ibanez mishandled the hit. Matt Wieters capped the uprising with a sacrifice fly. Seattle used three walks, a homer by Saunders and an RBI single by Morales to close to 4-3 in the third. After Davis homered in the third and Flaherty hit one in the fourth, Quintero connected leading off the fifth. Jones hit an RBI single in the bottom half for a 7-4 lead, but the Mariners got two runs in the sixth on a run-scoring double by Morse and a sacrifice fly by Saunders. NOTES: The Orioles placed 2B Brian Roberts on paternity leave as he awaits the birth of his first son. Baltimore filled out the roster by activating RHP Steve Johnson (strained oblique) from the disabled list. ... Seattle 2B Nick Franklin went 0 for 5 and is hitless in his past 17 at-bats. ... Roberto Alomar was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame before the game. ... Wieters went 0 for 3 and is hitless in his past 25 at-bats, the longest drought of his career. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '