The Baltimore Orioles lost the finale of their West Coast swing Wednesday and with that the road trip 4 games to 5. In a game that saw the Birds commit three errors, allow the Los Angeles Angels (34-48) to tie the game with three two out runs in the eighth and squander the lead and the game by allowing a pair of two out runs in the tenth inning. The ugly final was a 7-6 walk-off win in 10 innings by the Angels.
The game should not have gotten to that point. After a Jorge Soler two run homerun in the first inning, the Orioles answered back with a two run homerun of their own in the top of the second. Pete Alonso opened the inning with a single and scored on Samuel Basallo‘s 434 ft. homer to right center field. This duo will factor into much of the game.
In the third inning Alonso doubled home Leody Taveras and scored on Basallo’s second two run homerun of the game, a 373 ft. shot to right field. Alonso finished the day by going 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI while Basallo finished the day by going 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBI.
The Orioles made their lead stand until the bottom of the eighth when the Angels touched Rico Garcia for three runs. Donovan Walton opened the inning with a double and scored two outs later on a Vaughn Grissom single. A pair of walks, the second one issued by Andrew Kittredge in relief of Garcia, loaded the bases for Wade Meckler, who came through with a game tying 2-RBI single.
A three up three down ninth by both teams sent the game to extras. Blaze Alexander was the ghost runner at second base for the Orioles and advanced to third on a Taylor Ward single. Gunnar Henderson hit an excuse me dribbler to the third base side of the plate. Running on contact Alexander was out at home on an exceptionable scoop toss by the pitcher to the catcher (the call was confirmed on challenge). Alonso singled with two outs to knock in Ward and give the Birds a one run lead.
Keegan Akin (0-1) came on in the tenth and immediately recorded two outs. Nolan Schanuel hit a grounder to second that Akin failed to catch the throw to first, allowing the tie run to score and advance Schanuel to third. Logan O’Hoppe hit a soft grounder that Basallo fielded and was unable to make the tag on an elusive Schanuel. Game over.
Trey Gibson made his sixth start of the season and didn’t last long. He allowed 2 runs on 3 hits with a homerun allowed, while walking 2 and striking out 5 in 4.0 innings of work. Gibson left the game having thrown 66 pitches (42 strikes). Six relievers bridged the game from Gibson to Akin.
2026 Record: 38-44
Next Game: Fri. 6/26 @ 7:05 pm vs. Washington Nationals
