One swing, one slam: Will it have big meaning for the O's down the stretch?

It was a massive swing. It turned a loss into a win, brought over 39,000 to their feet and perhaps turned a season spiraling the wrong way back into a solid direction.

How much meaning will that one swing have?

Since they last won three in a row - from July 14-20, wrapping around the All-Star break - the Orioles have had five win streaks of two games. They haven't made it to three straight in over a month. 

But Anthony Santander's grand slam in the last of the eighth off Houston reliever Bryan Abreu turned a 5-2 deficit into a one-run lead and eventual 7-5 win over Houston.

Finally, another comeback win. Finally, a win of any kind.

The O's entered last night having lost three of four, five of seven and seven of 11. Houston was 12-3 its last 15 and 14-6 the previous 20 games and had won nine in a row on the road.

All that changed when Santander mashed his fourth career slam and second of this season to flip the script. 

It was so needed by the Orioles and a crowd of 39,578 that roared all night, providing great support. As the walls were closing in on a team that was heading the wrong way, one blast on one night seemed to make everything right again. 

Now can they build on it and finish strong the last 32 games?

The largest first-place deficit of the year for the Orioles was 4 1/2 games on June 6, when they were 39-22 but the Yankees were 45-19. They would have been 2 1/2 out with a loss Friday. 

"It really was so exciting, and the stadium, that was as loud as it’s been this year, I think," manager Brandon Hyde said. "It was a great atmosphere and Santander comes through once again at a time when we really have been scuffling. We caught a couple breaks tonight. We haven’t been catching many breaks, either. Just a massive, massive hit for us."

Said Santander of his 38th homer and fourth slam: "That was a playoff atmosphere. So happy that the fans stayed in that kind of game to support us all the way to the ninth inning. And then, we got a win, that’s the most important and I’m so happy for that."

Last night Santander became the ninth player in O's history to hit 38 or more homers, joining this list: Brady Anderson, Nelson Cruz, Chris Davis (three times), Jim Gentile, Rafael Palmeiro (four times), Boog Powell, Frank Robinson and Mark Trumbo.

Santander has hit 29 homers in 73 games since June 1. He is on a pace to finish with 47. His previous career high was 33 in 2022.

Before last night, the last time an Oriole hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning or later it was Pedro Álvarez at Yankee Stadium in the 14th inning of a 3-3 game on April 6, 2018.

The last time an Oriole hit one in the eighth or later with the team down three runs it was Luke Scott on May 13, 2010 versus Seattle, down 5-2. Same score as when Tony Taters connected. 

It was a huge win and now we see if the Orioles can keep it going as they have to face lefty Framber Valdez (13-5, 3.20 ERA) in the third game of the series this afternoon.

Last night the O's kept pace with the Yankees. But New York is playing better ball lately, and is now at 76-53. They have won six of nine and are 16-8 the past 24 games. Since they took two of three in Baltimore in a series that began July 12, they are 20-14.

One dramatic swing energized a team and a town last night. Now they need to stay that way for many more nights as the Orioles chase a playoff spot and an American League East title and it's getting late in the 2024 season. 

Check out more looks at that swing and the win here, here and here.