Orioles overcome 4-0 deficit, mistakes to win first game; Kline gets first victory; Santander is back for now

CHICAGO—The Orioles left a season-high 13 runners on base, went 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position and committed three errors — and won.

Richie Martin, who entered the game batting just .164, had a double and a triple. Martin led off the eighth of a 4-all tie with a triple and scored on Jonathan Villar’s sacrifice fly, and the Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox, 5-4, in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. The win broke a four-game losing streak.

Branden Kline pitched two innings, giving up just one hit, and picked up his first major league win. Mychal Givens retired four batters for his second save.

The Orioles fell behind, 4-0, as David Hess allowed just one earned run in 4 1/3 innings. He contributed to the team’s shoddy defense with a throwing error.

“We weren’t playing well early and had a bad couple innings defensively,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Proud of our guys the way we hung in there down four and took good ABs the rest of the game, so nice win for us.”

One play seemed to typify the Orioles’ blunders when a ground ball ricocheted off first baseman Renato Nunez, caromed to second baseman Jonathan Villar, who dropped it and and then fired a throw to Nunez, who dropped the ball to allow the hitter to reach.

Martin was happy to contribute to the comeback win with his second RBI and third multi-hit game.

“I think it says a lot about our character,” Martin said. “We’re never going to give up no matter what the score is or how bad things may get. We’re just going to keep pushing.”

Kline, a native of Frederick, Md., got the win in just his third major league game.

“You really can’t put it into words,” Hess said. “I’ve known Kline for a long time. To see the excitement around the team for him, it’s special. I can only imagine how he feels, just the journey that he’s had. It’s a real testament to perseverance and really just staying poised. It’s special for him and special to experience that with him.”

The Orioles left the bases loaded twice.

Trey Mancini returned to the lineup after missing two games because of a bruised right index finger. He was hitless in four at-bats, striking out three times. He was not in the lineup for the second game.

Besides Martin, Villar, Nunez and Hanser Alberto each had two hits.

Armstrong arrives: Shawn Armstrong, who was claimed on waivers from Seattle on Sunday, joined the Orioles for the first game.

Armstrong, a right-hander, was 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 57 games with Cleveland and the Mariners over the last five seasons.

“Any time you go to a new place, new teammates, new ways of coaching, new ways of playing the game … it’s definitely a new start,” Armstrong said. “Coming off an [oblique] injury in Seattle, I didn’t have the have the best start I wanted to.”

In four games, Armstrong had a 14.73 ERA with the Mariners.

Armstrong relieved Hess in the fifth inning and pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings, allowing a hit, a walk and striking out a batter

An East Carolina teammate of Mike Wright, who was traded to Seattle last week, Armstrong will take over Wright’s apartment in Baltimore. The two were groomsmen in each other’s weddings.

“We did basically switch places,” Armstrong said. “I hope all the best for him, and we’re both excited for a new opportunity.”

Wright spoke highly of the Orioles to Armstrong.

“I heard nothing but good things about the coaching staff,” Armstrong said. “Everything he’s told me, everything I’ve seen, every person I’ve talked to, I’m just very excited to get things going.”

Santander added: Outfielder Anthony Santander was added as the 26^th man for Wednesday’s second game. He started in right field and hit a long home run.

Santander, who was a Rule 5 draft choice in December 2016, hasn’t played in the major leagues in nearly a year. He hit .214 with a home run and eight RBIs in 46 games with the Orioles in 2017 and 2018.

After he completed 90 days on the Orioles’ major league roster, he was sent to Double-A Bowie last May. He had a strong spring training this season but was sent to Triple-A Norfolk. In 23 games, he’s hitting .277 with two home runs and 15 RBIs.

“I think it’s been going very well,” Santander said through a translator. “Making solid contact, hard contact, working hard down there so that when the opportunity comes to be called up, hopefully I can help the team.”

Santander said that he wasn’t surprised to be sent to the minor leagues despite his strong spring.

“It’s a positive thing to keep improving, to keep working on the development aspect of my career,” Santander said. “So when that opportunity comes, when that call comes, I can be ready to help the team.”

Hyde said that because of Tuesday’s rainout and Thursday’s off-day, the bullpen should be rested, and he chose a position player as the 26^th man.

Injury updates: Alex Cobb, who returned to the 10-day injured list because of a sore back, is in Baltimore and undergoing therapy. He’ll go to Sarasota when his back rehab intensifies.

Nate Karns (forearm) “should be starting his throwing progression later this week or next week,” Hyde said.

Austin Hays (thumb) is scheduled to play in extended spring training games later this week.

Mark Trumbo (knee) hasn’t been cleared for baseball activities. Hyde says he’s participating in a “running progression.”

Sucre stays with Orioles: Catcher Jesus Sucre, who was designated for assignment on Sunday, cleared waivers and has been assigned to Norfolk.

“I was hoping he was going to get a big league job,” Hyde said. “If that didn’t happen, I was really hoping he would stay with us, and he did.”