[Baltimore Sun] Tyler Wells resilient, but Orioles drop series finale to Angels, 4-1, as offense stalls
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After scoring 24 runs over their first two games of 2024, the Orioles mustered just one in their series finale Sunday as they fell 4-1 to the Los Angeles Angels.
Baltimore stranded eight base runners and went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position in what was a stark contrast to the offensive display of the club’s first two games. Angels manager Ron Washington held a team meeting Saturday night after the Orioles’ 13-4 win, a game in which Baltimore scored nine runs without recording an out in the sixth inning.
The Angels responded by holding the Orioles to three hits Sunday. Baltimore scored its lone run of the game on an RBI walk by shortstop Gunnar Henderson with the bases loaded in the second. That was all the run support the Orioles would provide starter Tyler Wells, who was tabbed with the loss after overcoming a shaky first couple frames to retire the final 14 batters he faced.
Making his first start of the season, Wells allowed four runs in two innings to open the game including a two-run home run by left fielder Taylor Ward in the first. The Angels recorded three singles the following frame to drive in another run and picked up an unearned run when catcher James McCann tried to pick offLos Angeles catcher Logan O’Hoppe at third base, only for the throw to hit O’Hoppe and sail into the outfield.
From there, Wells became unhittable. He finished the day with seven strikeouts and no walks over six innings, striking out the side in his final inning. Wells set out to earn a spot back in the Orioles’ rotation this season and keep it, and his effort Sunday was a positive first step in that direction. Yet the Orioles’ bats had few answers to Angels starter Reid Detmers, who scattered two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts across five innings, or Los Angeles’ bullpen.
The Orioles had several opportunities to get the big hit and climb back into the game, including two with designated hitter Adley Rutschman at the plate.
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Rutschman came to the plate with the bases still loaded after Henderson’s RBI walk in the second but grounded out to end the threat. He also had the chance to do some damage with runners on the corners and two outs in the seventh against Angels reliever José Soriano, but Rutschman flew out to left field for the final out of that frame as well.
Soriano replaced Detmers in the sixth and delivered three scoreless innings with one hit allowed before ceding the ball to Carlos Estévez, who notched the save in the ninth. Orioles relievers Dillon Tate, Jacob Webb and Yennier Cano each recorded scoreless one-inning appearances.
With the loss, the Orioles suffered their first defeat of 2024 to settle for a 2-1 series win. The defending American League East champions turn their attention to the Kansas City Royals, who will arrive in Baltimore on Monday to begin a three-game series.
This story will be updated.
Royals at Orioles
Monday, 6:35 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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