Gunnar Henderson homers twice as Orioles sweep Athletics

Gunnar Henderson went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs to lead the Baltimore Orioles to an 8-5 win over the Athletics Sunday in West Sacramento, Calif.

Henderson finished a double shy of the cycle.

The win gave the Orioles a sweep of the three-game series, their first since winning three straight in Houston, the first series after the All-Star Break, July 17-19.

Baltimore also swept the Royals in its final series before the All-Star Break.

The sweep was the fifth against the A's in a series completed in August.

Orioles starter Chris Bassitt (6-4) allowed eight hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings against his former team. The right-hander walked three and struck out four.

Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his third save.

A's starter Jeffrey Springs (3-13) gave up six hits and seven runs in 4 2/3 innings. The southpaw walked one and struck out six.

The Orioles took the lead in the fifth when Blaze Alexander reached on a two-out infield single and Pete Alonso walked.

Henderson unloaded to right for his second home run of the afternoon to give Baltimore a two-run lead.

After Henderson gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead with a homer in the first, the A's scored in three straight innings, building a 5-1 lead.

Lawrence Butler drove in two runs in the first with a one-out double to right field to make it 2-1 A's.

Jeff McNeil made it 3-1 when he doubled off Leody Taveras' glove in right to score Brian Serven.

Serven gave the A's a four-run lead in the third with a homer to center. Tommy White started the rally with a one-out double to right and Serven followed with a two-run blast.

Baltimore started its comeback in the fourth when Alonso and Henderson reached on back-to-back singles with two outs.

Coby Mayo cut the deficit to 5-4 with a three-run blast to left-center field.

The Orioles added an insurance run in the eighth. Alonso was hit in the head by a pitch from Kade Morris to start the inning. He left the game but walked off under his own power to the dugout.

Henderson followed with a shot through a hole at shortstop that rolled all the way to the wall for a triple, scoring pinch-runner Jackson Holliday.