Gunnar Henderson was too good to hit for the cycle Sunday.
The rookie was a single away from recording the eighth cycle in Orioles historical past when he got here to bat within the eighth inning, however he was hitting the ball too onerous for singles. Henderson roped a 103.6 mph double down the fitting area line, selecting to dash to second for his fourth extra-base hit of the afternoon fairly than maintain up at first for the cycle.
Henderson’s near-cycle — a 4-for-5 day with two doubles, a triple and a homer — propelled Baltimore to a 12-1 win over the Athletics and the Orioles’ eighth collection sweep of the season. The 22-year-old is the eleventh participant in Orioles historical past with 4 extra-base hits in a sport and the primary since Melvin Mora in 2008. Only two different Baltimore gamers — Chris Richard, additionally a rookie, in 2000 and Don Baylor in 1973 — have tallied 4 extra-base hits with at the least one double, triple and residential run.
The four-hit sport is the second of Henderson’s nascent profession. In early July, he went 4-for-7 with two lengthy balls in a blowout win over the Yankees in New York.
The dominant efficiency was the newest for a participant who’s blossoming into not simply the front-runner to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award, but additionally maybe the Orioles’ finest participant. His 3.8 wins above substitute on Baseball Reference coming into Sunday — a quantity that can absolutely rise after he totaled 11 bases — tops the staff.
Henderson powered an offense that totaled 17 hits. Ryan Mountcastle hit a three-run homer within the fourth with a deep blast to left-center area. Jorge Mateo didn’t must clear the fence to around the bases with an inside-the-park residence run within the second.
Starting pitcher Kyle Bradish maintained his standing because the Orioles’ finest rotation member — and maybe one of many Junior Circuit’s prime starters — with eight strikeouts in six shutout innings. His 3.03 ERA is tied for the AL lead amongst certified beginning pitchers.
Baltimore is 77-47 and three video games forward of the Tampa Bay Rays atop the AL standings. The final time the Orioles had been 30 video games over .500 was in 2014 — the final time the membership received the AL East.
This story will probably be up to date.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com