ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gunnar Henderson began the Orioles’ road trip — perhaps the club’s most important stretch of the season — 0 for 14 with three strikeouts. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he flipped a switch.

Alonso told MLB.com's Jake Rill that his leadoff-less stretch goes back even further than that, saying it's the first time he's ever come to the plate to kick off a game. "First time for everything. Why not?" he said, per Rill.