BALTIMORE—In the last two days, two big hits have seemingly righted the Orioles’ season. On Friday night, trailing by three runs in the eighth inning, Anthony Santander hit a grand slam to give the Orioles a dramatic win. A day later, Jackson Holliday doubled with the bases loaded in the sixth to lead the Orioles to another comeback win.
The Orioles’ 3-2 win over the Houston Astros before 35,302 at Camden Yards on Saturday moved Baltimore (76-55) to within a half-game of the New York Yankees in the American League East. New York lost to the Colorado Rockies, 9-2.
The Orioles had three hits in the first five innings. With one out in the sixth, Gunnar Handerson singled. Anthony Santander was called out on strikes and argued vehemently with home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz. Eloy Jiménez singled, and Colton Cowser made a headfirst slide into first for an infield single to load the bases.
Holliday, who was hitless in 20 at-bats and not starting against left-hander Framber Valdez, pinch-hit for Emmanuel Rivera, starting his first game for the Orioles. He drove a double to center on the first pitch against Tayler Scott, clearing the bases.
Keegan Akin (3-0), who was reinstated from the paternity list after the birth of his daughter Kennedy, recorded the final out of the sixth and the first two of the seventh before Ben Gamel bunted for a base hit. Yennier Cano struck out Mauricio Dubón to end the seventh.
Jose Altuve flied out to left and Cano struck out Alex Bregman before Yainer Diaz bunted for a base hit and Jeremy Peña struck out to end the eighth.
Seranthony Dominguez quickly dispatched Houston in the ninth for his sixth save.
Albert Suárez threw 91 pitches, and two hurt him, a leadoff home run by Jose Altuve in the first and Peña’s homer with two outs in the sixth.
Manager Brandon Hyde removed Suárez after Peña’s home run. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed two runs on four hits, walked two and struck out two.
Valdez (13-6) gave up three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out eight.