Orioles beat Mets, 2-1, on Gunnar Henderson's go-ahead, 8th-inning home run

Matt Weyrich, The Baltimore Sun on Sep 14, 2026

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — This time, Gunnar Henderson came through in the clutch.

The Baltimore Orioles’ star shortstop hasn’t often been the source of big hits in key spots this season, a down year in several regards. Henderson, who still has yet to collect a walk-off hit in his career, entered Monday’s game with a .674 OPS in close-and-late situations

That moment will have to wait, but Henderson enjoyed the next best thing Monday with a go-ahead home run in the eighth to help Baltimore beat the New York Mets, 2-1. With the score tied and the Orioles looking for a big hit all night, Henderson took right-hander Dedniel Núñez deep for his 23rd home run of the season and his first since Aug. 30.

Baltimore (73-78) won the series opener to give Pete Alonso a happy homecoming in his first game back at Citi Field since the Orioles signed him away from the Mets in free agency. The home team treated Alonso, who spent seven seasons in Queens, to a scoreboard tribute video and multiple standing ovations. Entering the game sitting on 299 career home runs, he went 0 for 3 with a walk.

With the win, the Orioles pulled back to within three games of the third American League wild-card spot. Their playoff odds have dwindled to the single digits, but Baltimore is not yet eliminated with 11 games left to go.

Brandon Young labored through five innings yet avoided disaster, allowing one run on five hits and five walks with six strikeouts. He threw a career-high 106 pitches and needed every one of them just to get through the fifth, putting two on with two outs in his final frame before getting second baseman Marcus Semien to ground out and end the inning.

The Orioles’ other run came courtesy of Heston Kjerstad, who recorded his first extra-base hit since making his MLB return on Sept. 1 with a second-inning double to score Jackson Holliday. Center fielder A.J. Ewing then tied the game back up with a solo home run in the fourth.

Four relievers combined to record the final 12 outs for the Orioles, with Yennier Cano earning the win and Rico Garcia recording the save, his ninth of the season, against his former team.

Around the horn

— The Orioles are managing Samuel Basallo’s playing time because of the young catcher’s nagging shoulder injury, Albernaz said before Monday’s game. Basallo has pushed to remain on the roster with Baltimore still mathematically in play for a postseason berth, but he’s struggled mightily since coming off the injured list Aug. 19.

— Albernaz characterized the Orioles’ thinking on when right-hander Félix Bautista might make his season debut as a “fluid dynamic,” acknowledging he might need to make consecutive appearances on his rehabilitation assignment in Triple-A before Baltimore reinstates him. Bautista has made eight appearances, most recently pitching Saturday.

— Before the game, the Orioles recalled right-hander Codi Heuer from Triple-A and optioned fellow reliever Yaramil Hiraldo. Baltimore acquired Heuer in a cash deal with the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline, and he posted a 0.00 ERA in 12 appearances with Norfolk prior to the Orioles calling him up Monday.

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