The Baltimore Orioles secured a 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium, winning the three-game weekend series. The contest featured a key offensive surge in the sixth inning and a pair of milestone moments, including backup catcher Maverick Handley recording the first two RBIs of his Major League career.
Pre-Game Odds and Context
Entering the matchup, the Orioles were listed as slight favorites with moneyline odds ranging from -115 to -120 at most sportsbooks, while the Angels hovered around even money at +100. Both teams came into the game looking to close out disappointing stretches, with Baltimore attempting to finish a difficult road trip positively and the Angels trying to salvage the finale of their 10-game homestand.
Offensive Momentum Shifts the Game in the Sixth
Baltimore broke open a close game with four runs in the top of the sixth. Gunnar Henderson delivered the biggest blow, launching a two-run home run to right-center field. The inning also featured a productive sacrifice bunt from Handley, bringing Emmanuel Rivera home and marking the Orioles’ first RBI bunt since 2021. The run extended Baltimore’s lead to 6-2, and they maintained control for the remainder of the game.
Handley had previously registered his first career RBI in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly, again scoring Rivera. The 27-year-old catcher was making just his fourth appearance in the majors, filling in during a stretch of roster adjustments for Baltimore.
Angels’ Defense and Pitching Falter
Tyler Anderson started for Los Angeles and allowed one earned run over five innings, but was undone by a series of defensive lapses. The Angels committed two official errors and struggled with multiple misplayed balls, including a critical mistake in the first inning when outfielder Taylor Ward lost a routine fly ball in the sun. That play resulted in an RBI triple for Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman.
Ward quickly recovered with an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Jorge Soler. He later came around to score on a single from Logan O’Hoppe, briefly giving the Angels a 2-1 lead. However, the Angels’ offense stalled from that point forward, mustering only one more run in the ninth inning on a pinch-hit solo homer from rookie Matthew Lugo, the first of his MLB career.
Eflin Returns to the Rotation
Zach Eflin returned to Baltimore’s starting rotation after missing a month due to injury. He allowed two runs over five innings, giving up five hits and two walks while striking out five. Though not dominant, Eflin’s outing was a stabilizing effort for a team dealing with injuries and inconsistency among its starting pitchers.
Looking Ahead
The Orioles will return to Camden Yards on Tuesday, where Cade Povich (1-3, 5.55 ERA) is scheduled to start against the Minnesota Twins. Meanwhile, the Angels head south to San Diego to begin a series against the Padres. Yusei Kikuchi (0-4, 3.83 ERA) is set to make his ninth start of the season as he continues to search for his first win in an Angels uniform.