Henderson’s 3-run HR sends Orioles to victory

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Gunnar Henderson hit a three-run homer and fellow rookie Grayson Rodriguez pitched six solid innings in the Baltimore Orioles’ 12th victory in 16 games, 6-3 over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.

Shohei Ohtani missed only his third game of the season for the Angels, who scratched the two-way superstar about an hour before first pitch after he strained his right oblique muscles in batting practice.

“We’re going to run some tests in the morning and see where he’s at,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “I don’t want to speculate anything right now. … Pretty sore today, though.”

About an hour before Ohtani was scratched, agent Nez Balelo made the first public comments by the slugger’s camp about his torn elbow ligament, confirming Ohtani is determined to continue his career as both a pitcher and hitter.

Rodriguez was disappointed when Ohtani came out of the Angels’ lineup.

“Yeah, that was somebody I was looking forward to (facing),” he said. ”Hopefully everything is all right with him. I definitely was looking forward to it.”

Rodriguez and Henderson are the Orioles’ two youngest players, but both stepped up for a surging team with no collective experience in a pennant race.

“This is definitely a testament to the whole team,” said Henderson, whose 23rd homer capped a two-out rally in the seventh. “I felt like we all bought in together in spring training and just kept working hard together.”

Rodriguez (5-3) struck out seven and allowed seven hits while improving to 3-0 in his last five starts, going at least six innings every time.

“We have really talented young players, and you saw a few of them tonight,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said.

Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle and Aaron Hicks drove in runs in the third inning for the AL-leading Orioles, who have won three of four to open their nine-game trip.

Kenny Rosenberg (0-1) pitched six innings of seven-hit ball in his second major league start for the Angels, who have lost four straight and 23 of 31 since they were five games above .500 at the trade deadline.

Randal Grichuk and Brandon Drury homered.