Ryan O’Hearn, Anthony Santander, and Jordan Westburg hit home runs during Baltimore’s big five-run eighth inning, leading the Orioles to a 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Adley Rutschman walked before O’Hearn’s seventh homer, which he hit to right-center off Jordan Leasure. Ryan Mountcastle then singled against Michael Kopech (1-4), and Santander gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead with his ninth home run of the season, also to right field.
After Colton Cowser struck out, Westburg added his eighth homer. Baltimore had only managed three singles before their late rally.
“We waited around a little bit, but it was great to see us swing the bat that inning,” manager Brandon Hyde said.
O’Hearn fouled off five consecutive pitches before hitting a home run on a slider.
“To be able to finish off an at-bat like that with a homer, we hadn’t had much going on all day,” O’Hearn said. “To be able to get some runs on the board, kind of get the ball rolling there, is awesome.”
Dillon Tate (2-0) pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings, helping the Orioles improve to 3-3 on a seven-game trip. Cionel Pérez closed out the ninth for his first save of the season.
The last-place White Sox wasted a strong performance by Erick Fedde in their eighth loss in nine games. Fedde pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, striking out six, and walking three.
“Honestly, my stuff wasn’t great early in the game,” Fedde said. “I felt it got better as time went on. For the most part, I was living on the edges. I felt like I was able to stay out of the middle of the plate and prevent damage.”
Gavin Sheets drove in three runs for Chicago, and Nicky Lopez went 2 for 2 with a walk.
Kopech had allowed only one run and four hits in 9 2/3 innings over his previous 10 appearances.
“It’s a tough one,” Kopech said. “Sorry that Fedde didn’t get the win there, he pitched a great game. But yeah, I’ve got to wear that one for a little bit.”
