Orioles Offense Goes Quiet as Angels Avoid Sweep With 4-1 Win

By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog

The Baltimore Orioles could not complete the sweep Thursday afternoon, falling 4-1 to the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Baltimore managed just four hits and repeatedly failed to take advantage of scoring opportunities as Angels shortstop Zach Neto delivered the biggest swing of the game with a three-run home run in the third inning. The loss dropped the Orioles to 56-59, although Baltimore still won the three-game series after taking the first two games Tuesday and Wednesday.

Neto Delivers the Big Blow

Orioles starter Brandon Young escaped trouble in the second inning when the Angels loaded the bases with three consecutive singles. Young responded by striking out José Siri and Brandon Lowe before retiring Oswald Peraza on a fly ball to keep the game scoreless.

The Angels broke through an inning later.

Wade Meckler reached on an infield single and advanced to second when Young made a throwing error. After Mike Trout flied out, Nolan Schanuel walked to put two runners aboard.

Neto then drove a pitch 411 feet to center field for a three-run home run, immediately putting Baltimore in a 3-0 hole. It was Neto’s 20th home run of the season, giving him at least 20 homers for the third consecutive year.

Young entered Thursday having won eight games and pitching as one of Baltimore’s most consistent starters, but the three-run inning ultimately handed him his third loss of the season.

He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over 4 1/3 innings. It marked Young’s first loss in eight starts.

Pozo Provides Baltimore’s Only Offense

Baltimore immediately answered in the bottom of the third.

Yohel Pozo launched a 397-foot solo home run to left-center field, cutting the Angels’ advantage to 3-1. The homer was Pozo’s first of the 2026 season and came in just his fourth game with the Orioles after joining Baltimore’s roster.

It looked like the Orioles could turn the inning into something much bigger.

Dylan Beavers followed Pozo’s homer with a single but was caught stealing second. Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson then drew consecutive walks before Christian Encarnacion-Strand was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Jackson Holliday.

Holliday grounded out to second, ending the threat.

That sequence proved costly.

Baltimore had a chance to erase the early deficit but instead settled for only one run. The Orioles would not score again.

Orioles Cannot Solve Angels Pitching

Angels starter Ryan Johnson entered the afternoon with a 7.63 ERA, but Baltimore could not take advantage.

Johnson allowed only one run on three hits despite issuing five walks over 4 2/3 innings. He departed one out shy of qualifying for the victory, and Mitch Farris recorded the final out of the fifth before pitching through part of the sixth.

Baltimore continued putting runners on base without producing the hit it needed.

Holliday walked in the sixth and Jeremiah Jackson later walked with two outs, but Colton Cowser struck out to strand both runners.

The Orioles then went down in order in the seventh.

Los Angeles added an insurance run against reliever Yennier Cano Hiraldo in the top of the seventh. Meckler singled and Trout walked before a balk advanced both runners. Schanuel followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Meckler and pushed the Angels’ advantage to 4-1.

Another Opportunity Slips Away in the Eighth

Baltimore mounted one final serious threat in the eighth inning.

Henderson opened the inning with a walk before Encarnacion-Strand flied out and Holliday struck out.

Tyler O’Neill then pinch-hit for Leody Taveras and singled to center, moving Henderson to third.

But Henderson was thrown out at home during the ensuing play, ending Baltimore’s best chance to pull closer.

Samy Natera Jr. handled the rest.

Jeremiah Jackson lined out to begin the ninth before pinch hitters Franklin and Coby Mayo struck out to end the afternoon. Natera earned his second save of the season with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Orioles Bullpen Keeps Game Close

Baltimore’s bullpen did its part after Young departed.

Josh Walker replaced Young in the fifth and worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only a double while working around additional traffic.

The Angels scored their fourth run against Hiraldo in the seventh, but Albert Suárez kept Los Angeles off the board over the final two innings.

The pitching staff gave Baltimore multiple opportunities to climb back into the game. The offense simply could not capitalize.

Los Angeles finished with nine hits compared with Baltimore’s four. The Orioles also left eight runners on base and drew enough walks to create opportunities throughout the afternoon.

Baltimore Still Takes the Series

Thursday’s loss prevented the Orioles from completing a three-game sweep, but Baltimore still took two of three from Los Angeles.

The Orioles opened the series with a 3-1 victory Tuesday before winning 5-2 Wednesday. Los Angeles salvaged the finale to improve to 44-71, while Baltimore fell to 56-59 overall and 32-30 at Camden Yards.

The loss also continued to highlight the narrow margin for error Baltimore faces as it attempts to remain relevant in the American League postseason race.

Baltimore entered the day chasing multiple clubs in both the AL East and Wild Card standings. Following Thursday’s game, the Orioles sat 12.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the division at 56-59.

MSB Take

This was a frustrating game for the Orioles because they had more than enough opportunities to win it.

Baltimore drew walks, loaded the bases and repeatedly put runners in scoring position, but the offense finished with only four hits. The third inning was especially costly. After Pozo made it 3-1, the Orioles had the bases loaded and an opportunity to completely change the game. Instead, they came away empty.

Young was not as sharp as he has been recently, and his throwing error helped set up Neto’s three-run homer, but allowing three runs over 4 1/3 innings should not automatically result in a loss. Baltimore’s pitching staff held Los Angeles to four runs, which gave the offense plenty of time to respond.

The encouraging part is that the Orioles still won the series.

Baltimore has little room for extended losing streaks at this point of the season, though, and games against a 44-win Angels club are the type the Orioles need to capitalize on if they hope to make a serious late-season push.

Final: Angels 4, Orioles 1

Baltimore falls to 56-59 but wins the three-game series, 2-1.