Santander hits unique HR, has 3 RBIs as Orioles top Rays 6-3

BALTIMORE (AP) — Anthony Santander hit an odd home run off Blake Snell and had three RBIs to help the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 Friday night.

The Orioles trailed 2-0 in the fourth inning before Renato Núñez doubled and Santander followed with a drive to center. Kevin Kiermaier backed up to the wall, leaped and stuck his glove high above the 7-foot barrier.

The center fielder timed his jump perfectly, but the ball glanced off his mitt and dropped over the wall. Kiermaier dropped to his knees on the warning track, then got up and shrugged as Santander rounded the bases.

“I know he'd like to have that play back," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He'll make up for that many times this season."

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde called Kiermaier “a really good center fielder, one of the best in the league."

Which made this unusual home run one to savor.

“I haven't seen the replay," Hyde said, “but I'll take it."

Pedro Severino followed with a far more traditional homer — a shot to deep center — to chase Snell, who won AL Cy Young Award two years ago and now is trying to come back from an injury-plagued 2019 season.

“I thought Blake threw the ball really, really well," Cash said. “I'm very encouraged by his performance."

Brandon Lowe homered for the Rays, who have lost three straight following a 4-1 start. Lowe's drive tied the game in the fifth, but Santander delivered an RBI single in the bottom half off Pete Fairbanks (1-1) to put Baltimore back in front.

The Orioles added a run in the seventh and Hanser Alberto hit a solo shot in the eighth.

Paul Fry (1-0) got the win and Cole Sulser worked the ninth for his second save.

Orioles starter Alex Cobb allowed two runs and four hits — all of them doubles — in four innings. The former...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Santander-hits-unique-HR-has-3-RBIs-as-Orioles-15450748.php