Big swing, big win: O's get walk-off victory to take momentum into weekend

With one swing, the Orioles ended a losing streak and maybe relieved some pressure on their clubhouse. They have scored five or more runs just twice in the last 13 games.

The second time was Thursday afternoon when Anthony Santander hit a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth to beat the Giants 5-3.

Did that swing relieve some pressure on the clubhouse?

“Yean, I mean, whether you are winning or losing, there is always pressure. It’s the big leagues,” said catcher James McCann. “We are coming down to the wire here. It’s a matter of being able to handle that pressure. You know, things haven’t been going our way right now, so to finally break through after what seems like an extremely long stretch, this is big. Big for the guys and hopefully this is something we can build on.”

Santander hit No. 42 and produced his third career walk-off homer and the O’s first walk-off win since July 14, the final day of the first half.

“To break through, we needed somebody, anybody, to step up and he’s been doing it all year," McCann said. "He leads the team in RBIs and he has come up in big spots time and time again, and today was no different."

There has been some discussion lately about: Have the Orioles held players-only meetings during the last few weeks and months?

“Yes and no. That is kind of a tough question,” said McCann. “It’s one of those things – we are communicating daily. Whether we are on a win streak or losing streak, we communicate daily.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve had players-only meetings. We meet daily. Saying that, yeah, we got together and talked, we do that every day. Have we talked about different things? Sure.

“Finding ways to find silver linings. Finding ways to keep showing up and finding ways to keep going. Don’t give in, don’t give up. So yeah, the conversations have changed. But to sit here and say, ‘We haven’t played our best baseball, so we held a team meeting.’ We hold meetings and talk daily. Before every series with the pitchers and before every game with the hitters.

“Can’t sit here and say that we’ve called a special meeting. It’s been continuous. Continuing to build and continuing to have each other’s backs. The only thing that matters is us in this clubhouse finding a way to compete every day and not giving in.”

It goes without saying, but I will anyway: The Orioles and their fans hope that win gets things turned around.

With the Yankees' loss in Seattle on Thursday, the Orioles are four games behind the American League East lead with nine to play. They are three games up on the Royals for the top AL Wild Card spot.

Holliday’s big swing: Pinch-hit for in the sixth inning Wednesday night, Jackson Holliday came up in a big spot in the fourth against Logan Webb yesterday. With second and third, two outs and the O’s down 2-1, he lined a two-run single to center. Holliday got a changeup and smoked it 102.3 mph into center field.

Can that get him going?

“Yeah, I think (I’m) just trying to stack up at-bats,” the kid said. “Leading into last game where I hit two line drives and today with a walk. Maybe should have had another walk. Just trying to put good at-bats together and good days together and hoping that it starts something. I feel pretty good right now.”

Holliday will take the improvement, going 2-for-5 with a walk and two RBIs his last two games.

The Orioles, who had lost five of six, eight of 10 and nine of 12 coming in, reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to five.

Final notes: For Santander, this was his first walk-off homer since July 28, 2023 against the Yankees. He becomes the fourth Oriole to deliver a walk-off home run this season and the first since Adley Rutschman on May 15 versus the Blue Jays.

Gunnar Henderson stole his 20th base in the first inning, marking his first-career 30/20 season. He is the fourth Oriole to accomplish the feat, joining Cedric Mullins (2021), Manny Machado (2015) and Brady Anderson (1996).

When Mullins singled in the seventh inning, he later stole his 30th base of the year and becomes the fourth player in Orioles history to record at least 30 stolen bases in three different seasons, joining Brian Roberts (four times), Anderson and Al Bumbry.

Now the Orioles welcome the Tigers to town tonight. Detroit swept three this week from Kansas City, helping Baltimore maintain their lead for the top Wild Card spot. They took two of three from the Orioles last weekend at Comerica Park.

Detroit is 25-10 since Aug. 11, pitching to a team ERA of 2.50 in that span. Detroit is now tied with Minnesota for the final AL Wild Card spot, with both clubs five games behind Baltimore.