Ascending Astros aim to brush aside high-octane Orioles

(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
With the midpoint of the season fast approaching, laboring to reach .500 doesn't seem like the loftiest of goals, particularly for an organization that has qualified for seven consecutive American League Championship Series.

But with their 5-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, a winthat clinched a third consecutive series, the Houston Astros closed to within th