BALTIMORE -- Anthony Santander hit a game-winning home run for his 42nd homer of the season and the Baltimore Orioles moved closer to a postseason birth with a 5-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
"That's a reminder of who we are," said Santander of an Orioles team 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 two-run shot off Ryan Walker (9-4) in the bottom of the ninth came after Casey Schmitt tied it on a single off Seranthony Domínguez in the top of the inning.
The shot landed a few feet over the front of the ground crew shed in right-center to end an afternoon that began with Baltimore having lost three in a row and eight of 10 to start five games behind New York in the AL East and 2.5 up on Kansas City for the top wild-card place.
"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."
Gregory Soto (3-5) induced a quick double play in relief of Domínguez to keep the game tied.
Earlier, Adley Rutschman had an RBI double and Jackson Holliday drove in two runs with a two-out single to complete a three-run bottom of the fourth, after 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."
That was the only offense until Schmitt's high arcing fly ball to right-center following Domínguez's back-to-back walks.
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," said Giants manager Bob Melvin. "But just fell an at-bat short."
Mullins received medical attention but remained in the game.
In the bottom half, with two outs and Gunnar Henderson on first, Santander quickly 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 of the at-bat. "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
Orioles: Ace Corbin Burnes (14-8, 3.06 ERA) 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.
Giants: Rookie RHP Mason Black (0-4, 7.07) 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.