Henderson’s long home run, strong pitching lead Orioles to 4-1 win over Nationals; Mayo gets 1st hit

BALTIMORE—Gunnar Henderson hadn’t homered at Camden Yards for exactly a month, and his two-run, first-inning home run started the Orioles on their way to an impressive win.

Henderson’s home run scored Austin Slater, who led off with a bunt single against DJ Herz, and the Orioles beat the Washington Nationals, 4-1, before 27,479 at Camden Yards on Wednesday night.

Henderson homered on July 14^th, the day before the Home Run Derby, and didn’t homer again until August 4^th at Cleveland.

For most of the season, Henderson had a comfortable lead over Anthony Santander for the team lead in home runs, but Santander passed him on July 26^th.

The home run was Henderson’s 30^th of the season. Santander hit his 36^th in Tuesday’ night’s loss, the most by a switch-hitter in Orioles’ history.

Henderson’s home run traveled 419 feet and landed on Eutaw Street, the third of his career and second this season.

Dean Kremer (5-9) won his first game since July 3^rd, and his first at home since April 30^th. He allowed one run on five hits in six innings, his first quality start since May 5^th. Kremer struck out three and walked two.

Washington (55-66) scored its run in the second on Alex Call’s double that scored Luis Garcia.

In the fifth, Coby Mayo singled for his first major league hit after 16 hitless at-bats.

In the seventh, the Orioles (71-51) scored two more runs when Colton Cowser and Mayo walked against Robert Garcia. Jackson Holliday singled to score Cowser, and Ryan O’Hearn singled off the left leg of reliever Jacob Barnes to load the bases. Mayo scored on Adley Rutschman’s sacrifice fly, and the Orioles led, 4-1.

Herz (2-5) allowed two runs on four hits in six innings.

Yennier Cano and Cionel Pérez pitched perfect innings, Seranthony Dominguez pitched a hitless ninth to record his third save.