Aug 14, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop (6) celebrates his three-run home run with third baseman Manny Machado (13) in the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Photo Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Schoop completed a six-run comeback by belting a three-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday, allowing the Baltimore Orioles to overtake the San Francisco Giants 8-7 and earn a series win in the interleague matchup.
Matt Wieters had a career-high five hits and Mark Trumbo smacked his major-league-leading 34th home run as the Orioles rallied from a 7-1 deficit with two runs in the seventh inning and two in the eighth before Schoop’s blast.
Record-setting closer Zach Britton pitched out of a two-on, two-out jam in the bottom of the ninth for his 37th consecutive save this season and 41st dating to last September.
Britton got Denard Span to ground into a fielder’s choice on a full-count pitch with runners at first and second to end the game.
The win allowed the Orioles to complete a 5-5 trip, just the second time this season they’ve won at least half their games on a trek.
With the victory, Baltimore (66-51) was able to stay within a half-game of first-place Toronto (67-51) in the American League East.
The Orioles trailed 7-5 entering the ninth before Manny Machado lined a one-out single and took second when the ball got by left fielder Angel Pagan for an error.
Giants closer Santiago Casilla struck out Chris Davis for the second out, but then walked Trumbo, setting the stage for Schoop’s 18th homer of the season.
Right-hander Brad Brach (7-1), the fourth Orioles pitcher, got the win after pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Wieters contributed to both the seventh- and eighth-inning uprisings, doubling in the seventh and singling in the eighth. He added a triple in the ninth following Schoop’s homer.
Trumbo’s homer, a solo shot, came in the eighth.
Backup catcher Trevor Brown, a last-minute replacement for ailing Buster Posey, drove in three runs with three hits to help the Giants build their lead.
Brown opened the game’s scoring with an RBI single in the second inning and highlighted a four-run fifth with a two-run single, helping San Francisco open a 7-1 lead.
Hunter Pence’s eighth homer of the season, his first blast since May 18, also contributed to the Giants’ advantage.
San Francisco starter Johnny Cueto, who helped his own cause with two hits and an RBI, took the 7-1 lead into the seventh. But he was pulled after Hyun Soo Kim’s two-out RBI double that got the Orioles back within 7-3.
Kim finished with three hits.
Seeking a 14th win and first since the All-Star break, Cueto allowed three runs on eight hits in his 6 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.
Orioles starter Wade Miley was tagged for seven runs (six earned) in 4 1/3 innings. He gave up eight hits and one walk, striking out one.
Pagan had a pair of doubles and Eduardo Nunez and Brandon Crawford scored twice apiece for the Giants, who have won just one series since the All-Star break.
Jones drove in two runs and Machado had two hits for the Orioles.
NOTES: Giants C Buster Posey was in manager Bruce Bochy’s original starting lineup, but was scratched about a half hour before game time because of lower-back tightness. … Both managers had a chance to move up the all-time wins list with a victory Sunday. The Giants’ Bochy (1,768) began the day one win behind Jim Leyland (1,769) for 15th place, while the Orioles’ Buck Showalter (1,405) was one shy of Jimmy Dykes (1,406) for 27th. … Bochy managed his 3,501st game Sunday. … The Orioles completed their eighth trip of four or more games. After going 3-3 on their first trip from April 11-16, they’d gone 2-4, 4-5, 3-4, 4-5, 3-4 and 1-3 before capping off a 10-game trek on Sunday.
