The Baltimore Orioles secured a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday evening at Camden Yards, powered by back-to-back home runs from Cedric Mullins and Gary Sánchez in the sixth inning. The win gave the Orioles a chance to complete a series sweep heading into Sunday’s finale.
Baltimore trailed 4-3 in the sixth when Mullins connected on a two-run home run off Angels starter Tyler Anderson, giving the Orioles a one-run lead. Sánchez followed immediately with a solo homer to extend the margin to 6-4. It was Mullins’ 11th home run of the season and Sánchez’s first since joining the Orioles.
Closer Félix Bautista preserved the one-run lead in the ninth inning, recording his 14th save in 15 chances. Bautista showcased his top velocity, exceeding 100 mph for the first time this season on a fastball to Mike Trout, who flied out to right field for the second out. After issuing a walk to Taylor Ward, Bautista battled through a nine-pitch at-bat against Logan O’Hoppe, finishing the game with a strikeout on his 22nd pitch of the inning.
Trout had opened the scoring for Los Angeles in the first inning with a towering two-run home run, his 11th of the season and the 389th of his career. That blast came off Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano, who allowed three runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings in his outing.
Luis Rengifo provided additional offense for the Angels with solo home runs from both sides of the plate. He hit a go-ahead homer off left-hander Keegan Akin in the sixth to give Los Angeles a 4-3 lead, then added another off right-hander Andrew Kittredge in the eighth inning to trim Baltimore’s lead to a single run. Rengifo had entered the game with just one home run on the season.
Baltimore responded to Trout’s early home run with a rally in the third inning. Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg each delivered RBI singles to take a 3-2 lead. After the Angels briefly reclaimed the lead in the sixth, Baltimore’s three-run frame, punctuated by Mullins and Sánchez, proved decisive.
Tyler Anderson was charged with the loss for the Angels, allowing six runs on nine hits across five innings. He has not recorded a win in his last 10 starts since April 18. Akin, who relieved Sugano, earned the win for Baltimore by retiring four batters, including escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning to keep the game tied at 3.
Rookie Coby Mayo recorded his first multi-hit game for the Orioles, going 2-for-4 with a double, marking his first extra-base hit at home.
The Orioles will aim for a sweep in Sunday’s series finale. Left-hander Cade Povich (1-5, 5.46 ERA) is scheduled to start for Baltimore, while the Angels will counter with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-5, 2.92 ERA). According to betting markets, the Orioles are listed as -145 favorites for the game, with the Angels set as +125 underdogs. The over/under for total runs is set at 9.