It took Gunnar Henderson just two full seasons to etch himself into Orioles lore.
Henderson’s heroics have guided the Orioles throughout their up-and-down season. He scorched opponents during his team’s early-season dominance, then quieted as Baltimore stumbled. Along the way, he established himself as one of baseball’s premier talents and the unquestioned leader of perhaps the sport’s best lineup.
And on Wednesday night, he stamped his campaign as one of the best the Orioles have ever seen. Henderson hit his 35th home run, a leadoff shot, to surpass Cal Ripken Jr. and Miguel Tejada for the most homers by a shortstop in a single season in franchise history.
But that blast was it for a sluggish Orioles offense, and an uncharacteristically poor start from Albert Suárez didn’t help in an 8-1 loss to the last-place Chicago White Sox. The Orioles (81-60) were on the precipice of capturing their first series sweep in nearly three months, but that final win again proved elusive.
Henderson’s historic home run output was uncertain in recent months. He hit 26 of them through the end of June as he kept pace with others around MLB for the league lead and in the American League Most Valuable Player race. Then he slumped out of the All-Star break and entered Wednesday with just eight homers since the start of July.
It took him 16 games after the break to find his first long ball; then he went another seven without one. Henderson hit four over a five-game stretch in the middle of August before going on a 13-game stretch with zero. He’s now hit one in two of the Orioles’ past three games, while Baltimore has won consecutive series for the first time since July.
The 23-year-old shortstop, who went 3-for-4 in the loss, entered Wednesday with 6.9 FanGraphs wins above replacement and a .902 OPS, fifth and 11th in MLB, respectively, and best on the Orioles by wide margins. He’s hardly two calendar years into his career.
Most home runs by an @Orioles shortstop in a single season:
Gunnar Henderson: 35 (2024)
Miguel Tejada: 34 (2004)
Cal Ripken Jr.: 34 (1991) pic.twitter.com/CmHqo4pQM3— MLB (@MLB) September 4, 2024
Henderson’s first-inning blast was the only score his team’s lineup could muster. Baltimore had just four hits from players other than Henderson against rookie starting pitcher Jonathan Cannon, who entered with a 4.54 ERA.
Suárez didn’t mask those shortcomings. He allowed three homers in the first four innings, the most he’s given up in a start this season, and lasted just 4 1/3 frames.
Nicky Lopez tagged him for a home run on the second pitch of the game. Andrew Vaughn homered to open the fourth inning, then Dominic Fletcher added a two-run shot three batters later. They were Lopez and Fletcher’s first long balls of the season.
Suárez surrendered a pair of hits and his second walk to start the fifth, which brought home another Chicago run. Keegan Akin entered and let one of Suárez’s inherited runners score to push the 34-year-old veteran’s line to six earned runs.
Wednesday marked Suárez’s shortest start and most runs allowed since July 23.
Five Orioles relievers were used to cover the final 4 2/3 innings, highlighted by Gregory Soto’s 10th consecutive scoreless outing. The left-hander allowed eight runs over his first three appearances with Baltimore but hasn’t given up a run in his past 9 1/3 frames dating to Aug. 6.
Suárez has been his team’s most unexpected star and is holding together a pitching staff decimated by injuries: “He’s been a season saver for us. It’s an awesome story,” manager Brandon Hyde said before Wednesday’s game.
Hours after his manager effused praise, Suárez took the mound for an atypical hiccup in that otherwise storybook comeback.
Around the horn
• Jacob Webb allowed four runs on a walk and two hits in the second outing of his rehabilitation assignment Wednesday. The right-hander was transferred to Double-A Bowie, which is home this week, after pitching Sunday for the Tides.
• The Orioles have not announced starting pitchers for their upcoming three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays that begins Friday night at Camden Yards.
This article will be updated.
Rays at Orioles
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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