BALTIMORE—Anthony Santander’s two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth was the hit the Orioles hope will break them out of their lethargy.
The Orioles had lost nine of their previous 12. Afterward, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde called it a “needed” win.
Gunnar Handerson singled with one out against Ryan Walker (9-4) in the ninth and after Cedric Mullins struck out, Santander hit his 42nd home run. As the ball was clearing the right-field wall, Santander gestured into the dugout and the Orioles had a 5-3 win over the San Francisco Giants before 23,181 at Camden Yards on Thursday afternoon.
It was the third game-ending home run of Santander’s career.
The win reduced the Orioles’ magic number to five to clinch a postseason berth.
The Orioles (85-68) put together a three-run fourth against Logan Webb. Santander walked and Colton Cowser singled. Santander scored on Adley Rutschman’s double to right. With two outs, Jackson Holliday punched a single just to the left of second base to score Cowser and Rutschman, and the Orioles took a 3-2 lead.
Michael Conforto hit his second home run in as many games, a two-run homer against Oriole starter Zach Eflin, in the fourth on a 3-0 pitch.
Eflin had runners on first and second with two outs in the sixth before Patrick Bailey’s drive near the right-field scoreboard was tracked down by Heston Kjerstad to end the inning.
Eflin allowed two runs on six hits in six innings, walking one and striking out five.
Cionel Pérez walked Heliot Ramos, and Casey Schmitt singled before he struck out Donovan Walton and Mike Yastrzemski. Baltimore native Lamont Wade Jr. lined to Kjerstad in right to end the inning.
The Orioles loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Cowser grounded to second to end the inning.
Yennier Cano, who hadn’t pitched since September 11th because of a sore right forearm, retired the Giants (74-79) in order in the eighth. He was helped by a terrific diving catch by Mullins in center on Conforto’s sinking liner.
Seranthony Domínguez walked Bailey and Ramos before Mullins and rightfielder Austin Slater collided chasing Schmitt’s fly ball, which dropped for a single, scoring pinch-runner Brett Wisely to tie the score, 3-3.
Mullins was examined by head athletic trainer Brin Ebel and remained in the game.
After Walton fouled out on a bunt attempt, Gregory Soto (3-5) replaced Domínguez and Mark Canha hit into an inning-ending double play.
Notes: Jordan Westburg went 1-for-4 with an RBI in his first rehab game for Triple-A Norfolk. Westburg, who fractured his right hand, played second base while Ramón Urías, in his first rehab game after spraining his right ankle on August 31st, was 1-for-3 and played third base. Both Urías and Westburg are scheduled to play for Norfolk on Friday night and they could soon be joined by first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who’s been out with a sprained left wrist.