Gunnar Henderson logs three RBIs in Orioles’ series win over Angels

ANAHEIM — If 2023 was a breakout campaign for Gunnar Henderson, consider this season a continuation of that development.

The 22-year-old infielder and Orioles leadoff hitter has ascended to an even higher level in ‘24 and firmly established himself as one of baseball’s top stars. Henderson’s great start continued on Wednesday afternoon, when Henderson reached base five times and finished a triple shy of the cycle in a 6-5 Orioles win over the Angels in the rubber game at Angel Stadium.

Henderson started the scoring with a solo home run in the third inning — his second straight game with a homer against a lefty — and doubled in the fifth inning before scoring on Adley Rutschman’s RBI single.

In his next plate appearance, Henderson brought home two runs on a single. Additionally, he drove in three runs, scored three runs, stole a base, was hit by two pitches and made a masterful defensive play at shortstop.

Henderson certainly had help from other Orioles to secure the series win against the Angels. Dean Kremer had one of the best starts of his career, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings and tying a career high with 10 strikeouts. The 28-year-old right-hander carried a no-hitter through 4 2/3 innings before Jo Adell’s single.

Rutschman recorded yet another multi-hit effort to raise his batting average to .327, while Anthony Santander reached base four times on two walks, a single and a hit-by-pitch. Colton Cowser, meanwhile, walked three times in a game for the first time in his career.