BALTIMORE- What happened? With a lineup that featured Colton Cowser and Anthony Santander batting in the first two spots and Gunnar Henderson moved to third, the Orioles scored six runs in the third and defeated the San Diego Padres, 8-6. The win didn’t come easily, though.

But the Orioles (62-43) did end a two-game losing streak. They’d lost 10 of their previous 14. San Diego (57-51) had a seven-game winning streak snapped. The Orioles also maintained a one-game lead in the American League East over the Yankees, who beat the Red Sox on Sunday night.

“I just felt like we needed to mix some things up a little bit and just give guys some different looks,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Sometimes you’ve got to, when you’re stale, [in] a little bit of a funk offensively, mix some guys around a hair.

“But I thought we took pretty good at-bats for the most part. We just have such a hard time adding on. It causes us problems.”

After their six-run third, in which the first six batters reached and scored, the Orioles didn’t score again until the eighth. By then, it was a 6-5 game, but Ryan Mountcastle, who drove in two runs in the third, drove in two more in the eighth.

Cedric Mullins had a two-run double in the third and made an exceptional running catch, leaping at the last second and then slamming into the center-field wall on a drive by Manny Machado for the first out of the eighth.

“He’s had some great catches this year, but that’s definitely up there, if not the best,” Hyde said. “That was an incredibly hard play in a huge, huge spot for us. He also got a big hit as well.”

Mullins received a huge ovation when the Orioles came off the field in the top of the eighth.

“It just felt like it brought the crowd really into it, too,” Mountcastle said. “It was super exciting for him and me just watching it. It’s unbelievable the things he does out there.”

How has Mountcastle handled the team’s slump and trade talk? Mountcastle has been with the Orioles since 2020, so he’s seen the good and the bad.

“Sometimes, a little adversity is good for a team,” he said. “Hopefully, this win today can catapult us into the rest of the year.”

Mountcastle’s name has been mentioned in trade talks, and he’s trying to ignore the chatter. The deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

“I haven’t really heard anything,” he said. “Just going out there and playing my game. That’s all I can do.”

How was Henderson’s Sunday? Henderson made a fine play to throw out David Peralta to end the second, and an excellent play to catch Jake Cronenworth’s pop fly to end the seventh.

He also made two throwing errors on infield hits by Peralty in the fifth and ninth, giving him five in four games and 16 for the season, the second most in Major League Baseball.

“A couple young mistakes,” Hyde said. :”That play in the ninth, that’s a do-or-die play and there’s really nothing you can do about it. The other throw was just trying to make a play. I know he’s a little frustrated with it, but it’s not from sitting back on the ball and being careless.”

Henderson was 1-for-4 with a bases-loaded walk, his first RBI of the second half.

What about the bullpen? Albert Suárez threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Jacob Webb gave up a two-run home run to Xander Bogaerts. Cionel Pérez pitched a scoreless seventh, and Seranthony Dominguez pitched a scoreless eighth. Yennier Cano pitched the ninth, allowing one run.

Dominguez benefited from Mullins’ sensational catch, and Cano allowed a run on three soft singles, an error by Henderson and a force play that originally was called a game-ending double play because of interference but was overturned.

“Huge spot right there, without Kimbrel, just wanted to use [Dominguez] and Cano there to end the game, knowing that they were going to face some left-handers because that’s the way their lineup is constructed and already used Cionel and Webby earlier in the game,” Hyde said.

Hyde was ejected when he asked for an explanation on the play when Tyler Wade slid into second and took out Henderson as he went to throw to first for a possible double play. Wade was called for interference, but after a lengthy replay review, the call was overturned.

“I thought it was a clean slide,” Hyde said. “He just went over the base, and that’s what they called right away because he went over the base. I just wanted to know why they overturned that.”

What can the Orioles expect from Eflin? Pitching coach Drew French is impressed with Zach Eflin, who was acquired from Tampa Bay on Friday and will start Game 1 of  Monday’s doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“Strike-throwing ability, six different pitch types, command to all four quadrants of the zone, fills it up, diverse,” French said. “He’s got a lot of ability. We’re really excited to see him go tomorrow.”

French spoke to Eflin after Friday night’s game to get acquainted.

“There’s a lot to learn,” French said. “But he’ll learn as he goes. The communication aspect will be huge.”

How can pitchers not let poor play affect them? French doesn’t want his pitchers to get caught up worrying about struggles by hitters and fielders.

“It’s kind of a field-goal kicker mentality,” French said. “You’re just trying to separate yourself from everything that’s going on and out of control and continue to lean into making pitches and getting outs as quick as possible. We’ve stayed with that message from spring training on.

“Probably easier said than done at this point. These guys are our teammates. There’s not one of the us in this clubhouse that hasn’t struggled at some point this year. We respect the hell out of each other. We have each other’s backs regardless of which side of the ball we’re on.””

Pache fitting in: Cristian Pache is fitting in with the Orioles, though the outfielder hasn’t started any of the three games he’s been with the club for.

Pache was traded along with reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Phillies for outfielder Austin Hays on Friday.

“It’s difficult. You have to stay strong mentally and tell yourself it’s a part of the business,” Pache said through an interpreter. “Keep that in mind and continue working hard.”

What does it mean? The Orioles needed a good offensive performance, and they had a six-run third inning.

What’s the word? “We put together our best offensive inning we had in weeks.”-Hyde on the Orioles’ offense.

What’s the stat of the day? 5. Henderson had his second multi-error game of his career, and he’s made five errors in his last four games.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Leftfielder Terrin Vavra and first baseman Billy Cook had two RBIs in Triple-A Norfolk’s 5-4 win over Jacksonville.

Wandisson Charles (0-2) allowed two runs in the ninth inning in Double-A Bowie’s 3-2 loss to Akron

Leftfielder Douglas Hodo and third baseman Carter Young each drove in two runs as High-A Aberdeen beat Jersey Shore 8-5.

Centerfielder Jake Cunningham had three hits and two RBIs in Single-A Delmarva’s 3-2 win over Fredericksburg.

What’s next? The Orioles will play the Toronto Blue Jays in a doubleheader beginning at 3:05 p.m. on Monday. Eflin (5-7, 4.09) and Cade Povich (1-4, 6.27)  will face Yarlel Rodriguez (1-3, 3.69) and Bowden Francis (3-2, 5.82). Povich is being called up as the 27^th man for the doubleheader.

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