Santander’s grand slam awakens slumbering Orioles for dramatic 7-5 win over Astros

BALTIMORE—The Orioles appeared dead offensively. They had managed just three hits in the first seven innings against the Houston Astros and were down by three runs.

They loaded the bases against Bryan Abreu in the eighth. Cowser Colton and Adley Rutschman singled to begin the inning, and when Gunnar Handerson grounded back to Abreu, he inexplicably threw to third after Cowser appeared trapped. Cowser beat the throw to load the bases.

Anthony Santander hit a 2-1 pitch from Abreu (2-2) to right-center field for a grand slam, his 38^th home run, and the fourth of his career for a 6-5 lead. It brought the Orioles and Camden Yards back to life.

With the one out and the fans still cheering, Austin Slater, who entered the game when Cedric Mullins left after four innings with a left quadriceps strain, singled, and Ramón Urías tripled to score Slater.

The Orioles’ offensive outburst gave them a 7-5 win over the Houston Astros before a delighted crowd of 39,578 at Camden Yards on Friday night.

In three of their previous five games, the Orioles had just three hits.

Craig Kimbrel (7-4) pitched a scoreless eighth. Seranthony Domínguez, who allowed game-winning home runs to the New York Mets in his previous two appearances, pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save, fourth with the Orioles.

The win enabled the Orioles (75-55) to remain 1 ½ games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Yankees beat Colorado, 3-0.

Cade Povich wasn’t able to follow up on his strong start last Saturday. Povich, who allowed two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings against Boston, gave up five runs on eight hits in five-plus innings

Mullins made an excellent running catch in the second inning on Mauricio Dubón’s fly, walked and was called out on strikes before leaving the game.

Povich gave up four runs to Houston (69-59) in the third. Jose Altuve hit a two-run home run, his 17^th. Jeremy Peña had an RBI double and Jake Meyers a run-scoring single. Peña led off the sixth with a home run to give the Astros a 5-2 lead.

Hunter Brown gave up two runs, one unearned, in six innings on three hits. An error by Peña led to one run in the second, and Cowser’s 19^th home run in the third was the other.

Brown struck out six and walked two, throwing a career high 107 pitches.

Povich struck out three and walked two, allowing five hits. He was removed with runners on first and second and none out in the sixth, and Burch Smith pitched two hitless innings in relief.

Santander led off the second with single. He scored on Peña’s throwing error.