Samuel Basallo’s two-run home run in the first inning gave the Baltimore Orioles the lead for good en route to beat the visiting San Diego Padres 7-3 to open a three-game series Friday night.
Gunnar Henderson also homered among his three hits and starting pitcher Shane Baz (4-6) worked five innings for Baltimore. Pete Alonso drove in two runs and Tyler O’Neill had two hits as the Orioles won their third game in a row following a four-game losing streak.
Gavin Sheets drove in two runs with two hits and Manny Machado also had two hits for the Padres at the start of their three-city, nine-game road trip. San Diego was limited to seven hits and left eight runners on base.
Baz allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits with two walks and a strikeout and he was supported with four relievers — each logging one inning — behind him.
Padres starter Griffin Canning (0-5) was charged with seven runs on six hits and five walks in five innings. He struck out six batters.
Baltimore had six runs on five hits through two innings. For the game, the Orioles had eight hits and reached on seven walks.
The Orioles scored three runs in the first inning, beginning with Adley Rutschman’s sacrifice fly to tie the score. Basallo’s 10th home run put Baltimore ahead.
Fernando Tatis Jr.’s RBI single for the Padres in the second inning made it 3-2, but the Orioles tacked on more in the bottom of the inning. Jackson Holliday’s sacrifice fly and Alonso’s two-run single stretched the margin.
Henderson homered for the 14th time in the fourth.
Sheets knocked in a run with a single in the fifth to complete the scoring. Earlier, his first-inning double accounted for the game’s first run. The Padres haven’t won back-to-back games since May 22 and 23.
