Anthony Santander's walk-off homer lifts Orioles to 5-3 win over Giants

BALTIMORE (AP) — Anthony Santander hit a game-ending two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, his 42nd longball of the season, and the Baltimore Orioles moved closer to a postseason berth with a 5-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.

“That's a reminder of who we are,” Santander said of an Orioles team that's nearly assured of a playoff spot but mired in a rough patch. “A close game, and then we stay positive, we stay together.”

Santander’s shot off Ryan Walker (9-4) came after Casey Schmitt tied the game at 3-all with a single off Seranthony Domínguez in the top of the ninth.

The walk-off homer landed a few feet over the front of the grounds crew shed in right-center to end an afternoon that began with Baltimore having lost three in a row and eight of 10. The Orioles (85-68) moved three games ahead of idle Kansas City for the top AL wild card and pulled within four games of the AL East-leading New York Yankees, who lost at Seattle.

“I was like this: ‘Huff, huff, huff, keep going please,’" Santander said while making a blowing gesture. “I hit it good with the barrel, but too high. I was hopeful that that ball kept going. And thankfully it did."

The Giants (74-79) were eliminated from playoff contention.

Gregory Soto (3-5) induced a quick double play in relief of Domínguez to keep the game tied.

Adley Rutschman had an RBI double and Jackson Holliday drove in two runs with a two-out single to complete a three-run fourth for Baltimore. Michael Conforto’s 18th home run gave San Francisco a 2-0 lead in the top half.

“It felt like the guys were doing everything they can to win this game today,” said Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, who recorded his 400th career victory. “Not that they haven't been. But for me, this was a needed win.”

The teams traded zeroes until the ninth, when Dominguez walked the first two batters and Schmitt hit a high-arcing fly ball to right-center.

The diving Austin Slater got his glove to it but couldn’t hold on while colliding with center fielder Cedric Mullins, and pinch-runner Brett Wisely scored from second despite tagging on the play.

“We come back in the ninth and have some good at-bats late in the game like we typically do,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “But just fell an at-bat short.”

Mullins received medical attention but remained in the game.

With Gunnar Henderson on first, Santander fell behind 0-2 against Walker but took a ball and fouled off four pitches before connecting on a slider over the middle.

“Don't really try to do too much,” Santander said. “Just to see the ball deep. And thank God I got a slider in the middle of the plate and I put a good swing on it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: LHP Danny Coulombe faced three batters and allowed a hit in his third rehab outing at Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday. Hyde said the club will make a decision on his status after he goes through pregame activities with Norfolk on Thursday. ... Hyde said he hopes 1B Ryan Mountcastle can begin a rehab assignment with Norfolk sometime this weekend.

UP NEXT

Giants: Rookie RHP Mason Black (0-4, 7.07 ERA) takes his fourth turn since he was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento at the end of August as the Giants play the first of three against the Royals.

Orioles: Ace Corbin Burnes (14-8, 3.06) makes what could be his final regular-season start in Baltimore as the O’s start a three-game set against Detroit to close their home schedule. Burnes will be a free agent this offseason.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

San Francisco Giants' Michael Conforto (8) runs home after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson, right, steals second base ahead of the throw to San Francisco Giants shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald, left, during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) catches a fly ball hit in by San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald for an out in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson celebrates after hitting a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

San Francisco Giants' Michael Conforto (8) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman (35) slides into home plate to score ahead of the tag by San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (14) during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman (35) slides into home plate to score in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (14) on a hit by Jackson Holliday during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday (7) advances toward first base after hitting a single to score two runs during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Jake Sanderson scored 15 seconds into overtime and the Ottawa Senators stretched their win streak to six games with a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

It’s the first time since March 2017 that Ottawa has won six in a row.

Shane Pinto scored twice for the Senators, Claude Giroux added a goal and Josh Norris scored short-handed. Sanderson also contributed a pair of assists.

Leevi Merilainen stopped 21 shots to earn his first NHL victory.

Brock Boeser scored twice for the Canucks, and Quinn Hughes had a goal and two assists. Jake DeBrusk rounded out the scoring for a Vancouver side that lost its third straight outing (0-1-2). Kevin Lankinen made 17 saves.

Canucks: The team has lost four of its last five outings and some of its top stars have gone cold offensively. J.T. Miller has not scored in the six games he’s played since returning from a 10-game absence, Elias Pettersson does not have a point in his last six outings and Conor Garland last recorded a goal on Nov. 29.

Senators: Merilainen stepped in for Linus Ullmark, who has been a superstar for Ottawa in recent weeks. Heading into Saturday, Ullmark had powered the team to five straight victories after backup Anton Forsberg went down with an injury during a pre-game skate on Dec. 14.

Boeser knotted the score at 4 with 4:50 left in the game when he blasted a rebound past Merilainen.

Hughes now has 40 points on the season (eight goals, 32 assists). He is the seventh defenseman in NHL history to hit the mark in 33 or fewer games in multiple seasons.

The Senators visit the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, and the Canucks host the San Jose Sharks on Monday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson (85) scores on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen (1) stops the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser, right, celebrates his goal against the Ottawa Senators with Quinn Hughes (43) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson (85) celebrates his game-winning goal with Brady Tkachuk (7) after overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)