Orioles get a lift from the bottom of their lineup in 6-2 win over Giants

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles have been searching for some life out of the bottom of their lineup, mixing and matching hitters to find some kind of spark.

Whatever formula that led Craig Albernaz to his starting squad on Saturday paid off.

Baltimore’s Nos. 6 through 9 hitters Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo and Jeremiah Jackson combined to go 6 for 12 with five RBIs to lead a 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants, evening up the series to set up a rubber match on Sunday.

Cowser, Mayo and Jackson all entered the game with an OPS below .500, each struggling to find their footing at the plate early, with a potential roster move looming as Jackson Holliday completes his rehabilitation assignment. They each made their case with breakout performances Saturday. Jackson had two extra-base hits (including his first home run of the season), Cowser collected three hits and Mayo plated two runs to help Baltimore (7-7) put the game away.

Gunnar Henderson also hit a solo home run in the third to move into sole possession of the top spot on the MLB home run leaderboard with his sixth on the year. He walked and stole a base to raise his OPS to .962 as he laid the early groundwork for a run at the American League Most Valuable Player Award.

The Orioles’ bullpen was nearly as vital to the win as well, covering 4 1/3 scoreless innings after Albernaz pulled Chris Bassitt with two outs and runners on second and third in the fifth. Bassitt was charged with both of the Giants’ runs while Grant Wolfram, Yennier Cano, Rico Garcia, Anthony Nunez and Ryan Helsley combined to allow just three hits between them.

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