The Baltimore Orioles clinched first place in the American League East with a 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. While that was probably the biggest headline to come out of Camden Yards, the Orioles also established some franchise slugging history with the win.
Anthony Santander’s second-inning homer off Michael Lorenzen was Baltimore’s 59th homer of June, setting a team record for most homers in a calendar month. With his 13th homer this month, Santander also set an individual franchise record for most homers in June.
The list of Orioles hitters Santander surpassed for most homers in June is impressive. Chris Davis, Albert Belle, Rafael Palmeiro and Boog Powell had all hit 12 homers in June.
Santander, who now has 22 home runs this season, has a chance to set the Orioles’ all-time record for home runs in a calendar month. But he would have to score three on Sunday to surpass Jim Gentile and Harlond Clift. According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Most human resources in a calendar month in Orioles/Browns franchise history:
August 1961 Jim Gentile: 15
August 1938 Harlond Clift: 15
June 2024 Antonio Santander: 13
May 2014 Nelson Cruz: 13
July 1966 Frank Robinson: 13—Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 29, 2024
Although he didn’t leave the park, Santander had another impactful hit in the seventh with an RBI double that gave Baltimore a 6-4 lead, enough margin to finally hold on for the victory.
The biggest blow in Baltimore’s win on Saturday, however, came from Heston Kjerstad. His fifth-inning grand slam gave the Orioles a 5-2 lead, creating enough of a cushion to withstand a Rangers comeback fueled by home runs from Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia.
Kjerstad’s home run also increased Baltimore’s June 2024 total to 60, leaving the Orioles just The third team in MLB history hit as many long balls in a calendar month. With a home run on Sunday, they can tie the 2023 Atlanta Braves, who hit 61 last June. And of course, with two home runs, the O’s can hit the second most in a single month.
The all-time record It’s likely out of reach unless Baltimore sets another MLB record for most home runs in a single game. The 2019 New York Yankees hit 74 home runs in the month of August. And the record for most home runs by a team in A single game is 10 by the 1987 Toronto Blue Jays.
The Orioles’ previous record of 58 home runs in a month was set by the 1987 club during the month of May.
With the Yankees’ 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday, the Orioles (53-30) took over first place in the American League East. June has not been as kind to the Yankees (53-32), who have lost five of their last six games and 10 of their last 13.
