BALTIMORE – Gunnar Henderson’s fourth leadoff homer of the season sparked a five-run first inning that backed an effective pitching performance by John Means and carried the Baltimore Orioles past the Seattle Mariners 9-2 Friday night.
After Henderson’s 13th home run — tied with Houston’s Kyle Tucker and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani for the major league lead — Baltimore’s next five batters reached base against Bryce Miller (3-4). A throwing error by shortstop Dylan Moore let in a run and Colton Cowser followed a walk with a two-run double down the right-field line.
The first out was a sacrifice fly by Jordan Westburg that capped the outburst.
“It was great to jump on them right away and get a bunch of runs there in the first inning,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “It was nice to be able to pitch with a little bit of a lead.”
In his previous start against Seattle, Means threw a no-hitter on May 5, 2021. In this one, Moore doubled on the first pitch of the game and scored on a single by Mitch Garver.
But Means (2-0) settled down in his third start since opening the season on the injured list with a left forearm strain. The left-hander allowed two runs and six hits, walked none and struck out four over six innings.
“I thought Means battled,” Hyde said. “He didn’t have his best fastball command, but that changeup is so good and he got some curveballs in. He kept them off balance that way.”
