Gunnar Henderson hits 100th career homer as Orioles roll over Padres 7-3

On Friday night, Gunnar Henderson showed a flash of everything the Orioles hoped he would be to start the season.

It seemed no surprise that the Orioles offense followed suit.

The 24-year-old shortstop hit his 100th career home run to serve as a capstone to a 3-for-3 night with a walk. He was one of many O’s who contributed to the fireworks in a 7-3 blasting of the San Diego Padres to open the series.

It was the third straight victory for Baltimore and not coincidentally the third straight night the team scored at least seven runs.

Since June began, the Orioles are fifth in runs scored and home runs across baseball. The surge has given them the sense that an offense that started slower than expected and slogged through most of May might be coming together as the summer heat cranks up.

“Anytime you get seven runs as a starter, it’s like the world’s your oyster,” starter Shane Baz said. “They’re kind of the concrete of this team — like, this lineup is just so good."

No one came into 2026 facing higher expectations than Henderson, an MVP candidate in 2024 who oozes talent. The experience this season, however, has been mixed. He is one of the team’s home run leaders, but his batting average (.226) and OPS (.714) have dipped, and he has hit the ball hard less often than any season before.

But the Henderson of Friday night felt much like the franchise star of the past few seasons. Under a fiery orange sunset that rippled through the clouds over Camden Yards, Henderson launched a fourth-inning, 386-foot solo homer to the flag court — reaching the milestone in 567 career games.

He’s on a short list of Orioles to hit 100 home runs before their 25th birthday, positioning among franchise luminaries: Boog Powell, Manny Machado, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr.

Manager Craig Albernaz said he’s been impressed with Henderson’s groove in the homestand, including his DH performance Monday that featured three walks.

“Today was a culmination of everything,” Albernaz said. “Saw the power, obviously, and another great walk against a tough lefty, and two base hits.

“So yeah,” Albernaz said, “I think Gunnar is about to have some fun now.”

Henderson kept good company, too, on an offense that punished Padres starter Griffin Canning early. The Orioles knocked the right-hander for three runs in back-to-back innings, and one night after squeezing Seattle starter Bryan Woo for seven earned runs, they did it again against Canning.

Catcher Samuel Basallo was the first to go long in the game in the first frame, knocking a two-run homer to left center and giving the Orioles a 3-1 lead. In the second inning, it was Pete Alonso who threaded a grounder past Machado (who now plays third for San Diego) and drove in two runs to put on a rout.

Basallo has 14 homers in 89 career games, but some believe the hard-hitting backstop could eventually give Henderson a run for his money.

“It’s not a competition,” Basallo said, grinning, “but I mean, I want to get there fast.”

The Orioles needed the offensive punch, because Baz turned in a shakier-than-usual start. After a game-opening error that allowed his first baserunner, Baz never quite stopped dealing with traffic on the bases.

The Padres scratched across only three runs (two earned) on the O’s right-hander, but Baz labored for 102 pitches across five innings and walked more (2) than he struck out (1). Fortunately for Baltimore, the Padres offense — which has been surprisingly toothless — couldn’t leave the park all night.

Machado got a pair of hits in his latest Baltimore return, and Lutherville native Gavin Sheets had an RBI double to start the scoring in the first. But ultimately Baz and the defense kept San Diego from running wild, and the bullpen secured the lid. The Padres left eight runners on base.

The Orioles could use a nice boost by finishing the homestand well. Next week they hit the road for Seattle and L.A., both home to division leaders and 2025 playoff teams.

Henderson got the 100th homer ball back from a fan, who happened to have also have knitted him a rug that was draped over the chair at his locker. The spoils of being one of the game’s elite young hitters continue to pile up.

“It’s cool to get to that number,” Henderson said. “Hopefully a lot more coming.”

Note

Albernaz said pregame that outfielder Dylan Beavers hit off a velo machine on Friday. He is expected to take live batting practice next week and then potentially begin a rehab stint. Beavers has been out with an oblique strain since May 13.

This article has been updated.