BALTIMORE – Gary Sánchez delivered a decisive grand slam in the seventh inning, while Ramón Urías and Jordan Westburg added home runs as the Baltimore Orioles celebrated an 11-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels to secure a series sweep. With this victory, Baltimore marked its third sweep in the last five series and improved its record to 30-40, inching within ten games of a .500 record for the first time since standing at 15-25.
Pitcher Cade Povich clinched his first win since April 24, playing a pivotal role in the Orioles’ latest string of successes. Although Los Angeles’ Nolan Schanuel managed to homer, the Angels could not keep pace with Baltimore’s offensive onslaught.
The Orioles moved ahead 3-2 against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, thanks to an RBI single by Ramón Laureano in the fourth inning. As the game progressed, Kikuchi was relieved in the sixth, following a sequence where Sánchez’s single and Cedric Mullins’ bunt single led to more runs due to Kikuchi’s fielding error. Coby Mayo added further pressure with an RBI double.
Sánchez made a significant impact by hammering his sixth career grand slam, the first since August 15, 2023. His hit on Connor Brogdon’s fastball to left-center marked Baltimore’s third grand slam of the year and the first since May 14.
Povich impressed by recording 3 2/3 innings of scoreless pitching, after taking over from starter Scott Blewett. Schanuel’s solo homer gave the Angels early hope, but Urías quickly turned the tables with a two-run homer in the opening inning, and Westburg later extended the lead with his own two-run homer in the eighth.
Despite striking out 10 over 5 2/3 innings, Kikuchi conceded a season-high five runs, three of which were earned.
A critical moment arose when Orioles reliever Seranthony Domínguez entered with the bases loaded during the seventh and skillfully struck out both Jo Adell and pinch hitter LaMonte Wade Jr., maintaining the Orioles’ 5-2 lead.
Statistically, Baltimore has dominated the Angels, boasting a 20-6 record against them since 2022, and a 5-1 advantage so far in the current season.
Looking ahead, the Los Angeles Angels are set to send RHP José Soriano (4-5, 3.86 ERA) to the mound to face the New York Yankees at the start of a four-game series on Monday. Meanwhile, the Orioles have yet to confirm their starting pitchers for the upcoming four-game face-off against the Tampa Bay Rays beginning on Monday.