Orioles Launch Three Home Runs, Defeat Angels 5-2 to Clinch Series
By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog
The Baltimore Orioles used three home runs and another outstanding performance from Trevor Rogers to defeat the Los Angeles Angels, 5-2, Wednesday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Tyler O’Neill and Coby Mayo hit back-to-back home runs during a three-run fourth inning before Leody Taveras provided two critical insurance runs with a pinch-hit homer in the eighth. Rogers struck out a season-high nine batters as Baltimore secured its second consecutive victory and clinched the three-game series.
The Orioles improved to 56-58 and have won four of their last six games. Baltimore also continued recovering from a difficult weekend in which the Philadelphia Phillies shut out the Orioles in consecutive games.
Rogers Dominates Angels
Rogers delivered one of his strongest starts of the season, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits over six-plus innings. The left-hander did not issue a walk and threw 93 pitches while earning his seventh victory.
Rogers retired 10 consecutive hitters after Travis d’Arnaud reached on an unusual infield single during the second inning. D’Arnaud’s ground ball struck second base and changed direction before Jackson Holliday could field it.
That was the only hit Rogers allowed through the first five innings.
Rogers consistently worked ahead in the count and generated swings and misses against an Angels lineup that struggled to produce quality contact. His nine strikeouts represented a season high, and he completed the outing without walking a batter.
The performance continued an encouraging stretch for Rogers, who has become an important part of Baltimore’s rotation. With the Orioles trying to remain within reach of the American League playoff race, Rogers gave the club exactly what it needed following Cade Povich’s six scoreless innings Tuesday.
O’Neill and Mayo Go Back-to-Back
Baltimore recorded only one hit through the first three innings against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers, but the Orioles broke through in the fourth.
Gunnar Henderson drew a one-out walk before O’Neill worked the count to 3-1. Detmers attempted to challenge O’Neill with a fastball, and the Orioles outfielder drove it 426 feet into the left-field seats.
The two-run homer gave Baltimore a 2-0 advantage and marked O’Neill’s second home run in as many games.
Mayo followed by jumping on a breaking ball and sending it even farther into the left-field stands. Mayo’s 436-foot blast gave the Orioles back-to-back home runs and extended their lead to 3-0.
The homer was Mayo’s 15th of the season. The young corner infielder finished 2-for-4 and recorded two of Baltimore’s six hits.
Mayo’s continued power production remains one of the most encouraging developments of Baltimore’s season. His ability to punish mistakes gives the Orioles another dangerous right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup.
Detmers completed four innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out five while falling to 3-8.
Angels Cut Into Baltimore’s Lead
The Angels finally solved Rogers in the sixth when José Siri led off the inning with a solo home run. Siri drove Rogers’ pitch over the wall to reduce Baltimore’s lead to 3-1.
It was Siri’s first home run since July 3 and Los Angeles’ only extra-base hit of the night.
Rogers returned for the seventh but allowed a leadoff single to Nolan Schanuel. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz then brought Alex Hoppe into the game for his Baltimore debut.
The Orioles acquired Hoppe from the Seattle Mariners shortly before the trade deadline. The 27-year-old right-hander opened his appearance with a wild pitch, allowing Schanuel to advance to second.
Hoppe retired the next two hitters, but pinch hitter Wade Meckler delivered a two-out RBI single that scored Schanuel and brought the Angels within one run.
Because Schanuel reached against Rogers, the run was charged to the Orioles starter.
Hoppe allowed one hit while recording two outs. Rico Garcia entered and recorded the final out of the inning, preserving Baltimore’s 3-2 advantage.
Taveras Provides Critical Insurance
Yennier Cano retired the Angels in order during the top of the eighth, giving the Orioles an opportunity to add to their narrow lead.
Baltimore appeared in danger of wasting the opportunity after Dylan Beavers and Pete Alonso struck out to begin the bottom half of the inning. Henderson then reached when José Fermin hit him with a pitch.
With a left-handed pitcher on the mound, Albernaz sent Taveras to the plate as a pinch hitter for O’Neill.
The move paid off immediately.
Taveras drove Fermin’s offering over the right-field wall for a two-run homer, increasing Baltimore’s advantage to 5-2. The home run was Taveras’ sixth of the season and gave the Orioles much-needed separation before the ninth inning.
Baltimore’s three home runs accounted for all five of its runs. O’Neill, Mayo and Taveras combined to supply the power on a night when the Orioles collected only six hits.
Henderson reached base three times, finishing 1-for-2 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch and two runs scored. Alonso went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts after driving in two runs during Tuesday’s victory.
Kittredge Closes the Door
Andrew Kittredge handled the ninth and retired the Angels without allowing a run.
Kittredge earned his fifth save of the season as Rogers, Hoppe, Garcia, Cano and Kittredge combined to hold Los Angeles to four hits.
The Angels did not draw a walk and struck out 10 times. Baltimore’s pitching staff prevented Los Angeles from building sustained rallies, with both Angels runs coming after isolated hits.
Rogers improved to 7-7, while Detmers took the loss.
Orioles Clinch the Series
Baltimore has now won the first two games of the series after defeating Los Angeles, 3-1, Tuesday night. Povich delivered six scoreless innings in the opener before Rogers supplied another excellent start Wednesday.
The Orioles have allowed only three runs through the first two games of the series.
That level of starting pitching has been especially important for a Baltimore offense that remains inconsistent. The Orioles scored five times Wednesday, but every run came on a home run. Baltimore did not record a hit with a runner in scoring position.
The Orioles were able to overcome the lack of sustained offense because Rogers controlled the game and the bullpen protected the lead.
Baltimore will attempt to complete the sweep Thursday afternoon at Camden Yards. Brandon Young is scheduled to start the series finale.
Maryland Sports Blog’s Take
The Orioles needed their pitching staff to stabilize the team after an emotional and disruptive trade deadline, and the starters have responded.
Povich and Rogers combined to allow only two earned runs over 12-plus innings during the first two games against Los Angeles. Rogers was particularly impressive Wednesday, attacking hitters, avoiding walks and recording a season-high nine strikeouts.
Baltimore’s offense still has work to do. The Orioles produced six hits and relied entirely on three home runs to score. That formula will not work every night, especially against stronger opponents.
However, the power displayed by O’Neill and Mayo was encouraging. Mayo’s development remains especially important as the Orioles evaluate which players can become long-term pieces of the lineup.
Taveras’ pinch-hit home run also represented a strong managerial decision by Albernaz. Removing a hitter who had already homered was a gamble, but Taveras rewarded the move with the biggest swing of the late innings.
The Orioles are still below .500, but they have begun August with improved starting pitching and consecutive series victories within reach. Completing the sweep would give Baltimore additional momentum before the schedule becomes more challenging.
For one night, the winning formula was simple: Rogers controlled the Angels, the Orioles launched three home runs and the bullpen finished the job.
Final: Baltimore Orioles 5, Los Angeles Angels 2
