Anthony Santander slam rallies Orioles past Astros 7-5

— In a thrilling comeback, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Houston Astros 7-5 on Friday night, thanks to a grand slam by Anthony Santander in the eighth inning. The Orioles, who had only three hits and were trailing 5-2, managed to rally and end the Astros' nine-game road winning streak. Santander's grand slam marked his second of the season and the fourth of his career, highlighting a dramatic five-run outburst that also included an RBI triple from Ramón Urías. The Astros initially took control of the game with home runs from Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña, while starter Hunter Brown delivered a solid performance, pitching six innings and allowing just three hits. Despite their strong start, the Astros were unable to maintain their lead, falling to a team that had been 10 games out of first place just a month prior. Astros manager expressed satisfaction with the team's position but emphasized the need for continued focus. In roster news, the Astros faced challenges as Yordan Alvarez was a late scratch due to neck stiffness, leading to Alex Bregman stepping in as designated hitter. Bregman, who has been dealing with an elbow injury, made his first appearance in the field since mid-August. Meanwhile, the Orioles dealt with injuries of their own, as Cedric Mullins exited the game with left quad tightness, and Ryan Mountcastle was sidelined with a wrist injury. Looking ahead, the Astros will rely on lefty Framber Valdez, who aims for his sixth consecutive win, while the Orioles will start Albert Suárez, who has been impressive with three straight scoreless outings.