Santander's Two Homers Propel Orioles to Victory Over Phillies

Anthony Santander hit two home runs and drove in four runs, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Grayson Rodriguez pitched seven strong innings for Baltimore, allowing only two runs.

Rodriguez (8-2) provided a solid outing, helping the Orioles bounce back after an 11-inning loss to Philadelphia in the series opener. Baltimore held a 3-2 lead before Santander hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, followed by an RBI single from Gunnar Henderson.

Santander's solo homer in the fourth inning and a sacrifice fly in the sixth gave the Orioles the lead. "I don't know what's happened, but I feel great when it's hot," said Santander, who has hit a league-high eight home runs this month. "I'm from Venezuela, so that weather is always in the 90s. I wish it could be hot all year."

The Phillies' Edmundo Sosa hit a solo home run, contributing to their early scores in the first two innings. Taijuan Walker (3-2) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Alec Bohm started the scoring with an RBI double, followed by Sosa's home run, putting the Phillies up 2-0. The Orioles responded with a sacrifice fly from Adley Rutschman and a solo homer from Santander, tying the game at 2.

Ryan Mountcastle singled in the sixth, and with the runner moving on a 3-2 pitch, Ryan O'Hearn singled to right. Santander's flyball then brought Mountcastle home from third.

Craig Kimbrel, who struggled for the Phillies in the previous year's NL Championship Series, now with the Orioles, faced a mixed reception from Philadelphia fans at Camden Yards. Kimbrel struck out three in the ninth inning, despite walking the leadoff batter, maintaining the four-run lead.

"A four-run lead with a three-batter minimum - for me, that's a save situation, especially against this club," said Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.