O's prospects chip in, chase 2 pitchers in 3rd

LAKELAND, Fla. -- As the designated hitter batting ninth, outfielder/first baseman Anthony Santander -- the Orioles' No. 9 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline -- might have figured his day would be short when he stepped to the plate for the first time Monday in the third inning of a 7-2 victory over Detroit.
But Santander's single to right field was the second in a string of six Orioles reaching base against Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey, who departed after first baseman Trey Mancini -- Baltimore's No. 5 prospect -- doubled to the wall in left-center field. Mancini's two-bagger drove in Johnny Giavotella for the O's fourth run of the frame.
Santander walked in his second plate appearance that inning, bringing Ryan Flaherty home as the sixth and final run of the frame and sending pitcher Dustin Molleken to the dugout for the second pitching change that inning.

"That's part of our depth," manager Buck Showalter said. "I like the club we bring, the depth pieces we play."
Mancini went 1-for-2 and Santander went 1-for-3, each finishing with an RBI, a run and a walk. Mancini, who turns 25 this month, spent most of 2016 with Triple-A Norfolk, where he slashed .280/.349/.427 in 125 games before his Major League debut in September. He became the third player to homer in his first three starts, going 5-for-14 with three jacks and a double for a .357/.400/1.071 line in five games.
Santander, 22, played 128 games for Class A Advanced Lynchburg in 2016, during which he hit 20 home runs and 42 doubles with a .290/.368/.494 slash line. The Orioles selected him in the first round of the Rule 5 Draft this past offseason.
Outfielder Aneury Tavárez, Baltimore's No. 24 prospect, went 0-for-2 with an RBI in the eighth inning. He drove in catcher Chance Sisco, the Orioles' top prospect, after Sisco drew a walk in his only plate appearance.