Gibson goes eight innings, Santander and Mullins homer in 5-3 win (updated)

Kyle Gibson was fast and efficient for the first three innings tonight. As if trying to recoup the time lost from a pre-start rain delay.

And then, it happened. The fourth inning, when the Orioles fell behind versus a pitcher with a career 10-0 record against them.

Wins don’t matter until they stand alone with no losses. That’s when they get noticed and referenced.

The Blue Jays scored twice in the fourth after Gibson retired the first nine batters, but Anthony Santander tied the game with a two-run shot off José Berríos in the bottom half of the inning. Berríos also was perfect through the third, and he also gave up a hit to the leadoff batter in the fourth.

There had to be a separator between them. It began with Cedric Mullins and continued with Gibson.

Mullins belted a two-run homer in the fifth, Gibson completed eight innings, and the Orioles won 5-3 to claim their 25^th series before an announced crowd of 19,432 at Camden Yards.

Félix Bautista notched his 33^rd save, and the Orioles maintained their two-game lead over the second-place Rays. They bring a 79-48 record into Friday night’s game against the Rockies, the first time they’re 31 above .500 since Sept. 25, 2014.

They went 10-3 against the Blue Jays this season, the most wins since 2017.

"Like I've said a lot, they're a great team and we're a lot better team than we were in the past," said manager Brandon Hyde. "We're more talented, we have better pitching, we've got Félix Bautista at the end, and some really, really good young players. So, we're able to pitch to them now a lot better than we did in the past."

Austin Hays led off the fifth with a single and Mullins yanked a full-count sinker into the right field seats for his 11^th home run. Consecutive one-out singles by Adam Frazier, Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson increased the lead to 5-2 – Rutschman was thrown out at third base – and Santander also singled.

Mullins doubled in the sixth for his first game with two extra-base hits since July 5.

A second groin injury is in the past and Mullins is making solid contributions in the present.

"Feeling really good," he said. "The body's responding really well day to day. I'm just continuing to do my maintenance, doing what needs to be done to stay out on the field."

Santander’s ball in the fourth traveled 417 feet to Eutaw Street, the 122^nd in the ballpark’s history and his ninth, ranking second behind Chris Davis’ 11. He homered twice last night after returning to the lineup and leads the club with 24.

Rutschman began the fourth with a single before Santander launched a 96.2 mph fastball beyond the flag court.

No Orioles pitcher logged more than 7 1/3 innings this season, but Gibson allowed three runs and six hits with eight strikeouts in eight frames and won his team-leading 13^th game to equal his career high. He surrendered 13 runs and 21 hits in his two previous outings in 10 1/3 innings.

"For me, that's his best start of the year," Hyde said. "I know he gave up three runs, but to go eight innings against those guys ...

"Just super steady, ultra pro, totally professional. He's incredible in the dugout, incredible in the clubhouse. Total competitor on the mound every start he makes. Unbelievable team guy. So, everything as advertised and more from when I talked to the people from Philadelphia last year, and just so fortunate that we're able to have that veteran presence. And he was outstanding tonight."

The veteran right-hander hadn’t exceeded seven innings since completing eight against the Nationals on Aug. 5, 2022.

"It's been an interesting stretch for me here, so to go out there and to feel as confident as I was, to feel as fresh as I did late in the game this late in the season, that was a good feeling," Gibson said.

As for the 13 victories, Gibson said they're a product of a really good offense and the defense picking him up a lot, and working deep in the game.

"I've been pretty open with you guys, my job every five days is to keep the team in the game and give them a chance to win," he said. "When you're able to get shutdown innings and the offense gives you a lead and you're able to hold that, obviously that's when the wins happen. I would have liked to have a few less losses where you kind of keep the team out of the game, but in general I think wins and quality starts, even though they're maybe not as important, I still think sometimes it can tell us the story of pitchers keeping them in the game, and tonight I was able to do that."

Hyde said he wasn't tempted to let Gibson return for the ninth at 95 pitches.

"I had Bautista ready for a four-out save," he said.

Gibson threw five pitches in the first, all strikes, and eight in the second. The 13 overall are the fewest he’s thrown in the first two innings in his career, per MLB.com’s Alex Fast.

Gibson was flawless through the third at 26 pitches, but Whit Merrifield led off the fourth with a single and the Blue Jays loaded the bases with no outs.

Henderson made a nice backhand stop of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s bouncer to get the out at second base, and Mullins ran down George Springer’s fly ball to deep center for a sacrifice fly.

Mullins retrieved Danny Jansen’s double in the seventh and threw him out at third base.

The defense shined again beneath a dark sky.

"We are playing really good defense," Hyde said. "I'm so impressed with our defense, I'm so impressed with just how we play the game. Run the bases hard, we have instincts, we're in the right spot defensively. For me, that's Cedric Mullins' best throw of his career. What a big play that was. We have good defenders at every position. That makes a huge difference."

"We pay a lot of attention to our defense, just the little things that matter, especially when we're going to play a very competitive team like the Blue Jays," Mullins said. "Being able to keep things tight and keep our guys out there a little longer sure helps the bullpen."

Gibson retired the side in order in the eighth, getting a called third strike on Belt, pounding his fist in his glove and yelling.

Berríos allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings. He’s now 10-1 against the Orioles. The record seemed to matter tonight.

"Just really impressed with our at-bats there from the fourth and the fifth," Hyde said. "Santander, a two-run homer and then just keep the line moving at-bats after that in the fifth inning, with some big hits. It's a tough starting pitcher that we got to."

The game started 1 hour and 10 minutes late due to inclement weather, raising the season delay total to 17 hours and six minutes. The Orioles treat them as minor inconveniences. They handle their business in any conditions.

Tonight marked the 38th comeback win. The Orioles have won or split the last 11 division series, the longest streak since 2012. The team record is 13 in 1969, per Elias Sports Bureau.

"Just continuing to stay focused on the plan," Mullins said.

"It feels good to take the series every single time, no matter who we face. And continue to move on from there."

* Ryan Mountcastle's on-base streak ended at 28 games.

* Jud Fabian hit his 15^th home run for Double-A Bowie and drove in four runs. Max Wagner and John Rhodes both had two RBIs.

Jackson Holliday was out of the lineup.

High-A Aberdeen’s Luis Valdez hit his second home run to break a 1-1 tie in the sixth. Juan Nuñez allowed one run in four innings, and Jake Lyons tossed four scoreless innings for the save.

Single-A Delmarva’s Matthew Etzel had two hits and two RBIs.