Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg (11) congratulates Ramon Laureano, left, after his two-run home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Logan Allen during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Gunnar Henderson’s go-ahead RBI single helps Orioles edge Guardians 4-3, avoid four-game sweep

CLEVELAND (AP) — Gunnar Henderson singled in Alex Jackson with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Charlie Morton matched his longest start of the season, helping the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday afternoon.

Henderson’s liner to right came against Erik Sabrowski, giving the loss to Guardians starter Logan Allen (6-9). The Orioles won for the second time in nine games and avoided a four-game series sweep.

Morton (6-8) went 6 2/3 innings and threw a season-high 107 pitches, giving up three runs while striking out seven. Gregory Soto tossed a clean ninth for his first save, filling in for injured closer Félix Bautista, who is on the injured list with right shoulder discomfort.

Steven Kwan hit a pair of solo homers and Nolan Jones had a sacrifice fly for Cleveland, which is 11-3 since July 7 and wrapped up its homestand with five wins in seven contests. The Guardians’ current surge came immediately after they lost 10 straight.

Baltimore took a 3-0 lead in the first on Ramón Laureano’s two-run homer and an RBI double by Ramón Urías. Allen lost for the fifth time in his last six starts.

Kwan went deep in the third and fifth, both to right field, for his first multi-homer game in the majors.

Key moment

Jackson doubled with one out in the seventh, prompting Guardians manager Stephen Vogt to replace Allen with Sabrowski. The left-hander walked Jordan Westburg before giving up Henderson’s RBI single.

Key stat

Laureano hit three homers in the series. He only had two home runs in 38 home games as a member of the Guardians before being released on May 25, 2024.

Up next

Orioles: RHP Dean Kremer (8-7, 4.06 ERA) starts Friday against Colorado in the opener of a seven-game homestand.

Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams (6-4, 3.54 ERA) pitches Friday to begin a three-game series in Kansas City.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Logan Allen (26) turns his back as Baltimore Orioles’ Ramon Laureano rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians’ Angel Martinez, left, scores on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Jones as Baltimore Orioles’ Alex Jackson looks towards the field during the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Charlie Morton delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Logan Allen delivers against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

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