The Baltimore Orioles took over first place in the American League East on Saturday with a 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers. While that was probably the biggest headline out of Camden Yards, the Orioles also created a piece of franchise history with the win.
Anthony Santander’s second-inning home run off Michael Lorenzen was Baltimore’s 59th home run of June, setting a team record for most home runs in a calendar month. With his 13th home run this month, Santander also set an individual franchise record for most home runs in a single month in June.
The list of Orioles sluggers who surpassed Santander for most home runs in a month of June is an impressive foursome. Chris Davis, Albert Belle, Rafael Palmeiro and Boog Powell all previously hit twelve home runs in one June.
Santander, who now has 22 home runs, has a chance to set the Orioles’ all-time record for home runs in a calendar month. But he would have to hit three on Sunday to overtake Jim Gentile and Harlond Clift. according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Most HRs in a calendar month in Orioles/Browns franchise history:
August 1961 Jim Gentile: 15
August 1938, Harlond Clift: 15
June 2024 Anthony Santander: 13
May 2014 Nelson Cruz: 13
July 1966 Frank Robinson: 13— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 29, 2024
Although it didn’t leave the park, Santander hit another impactful hit in the seventh with an RBI double that gave Baltimore a 6-4 lead, enough of a margin to ultimately hold on for the win.
The biggest blow in Baltimore’s victory 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 rally sparked by home runs from Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis GarcÃa.
Kjerstad’s homer also increased Baltimore’s total to 60 in June 2024, giving the Orioles just the third team in MLB history to hit that 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, the O’s can hit the second-most ever in a single month with two home runs.
The all-time record is 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 homers 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 in the calendar month of May.
With the Yankees’ 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday, the Orioles (53-30) moved into first place in the AL East. June has not been so kind to the Yankees (53-32), who have lost five of their last six games and 10 of their last 13.
