Baltimore Orioles defeat Los Angeles Angels 3-2 – MLB Update
Baltimore Orioles romped to a 3-2 win in the second game against the Los Angeles Angels in the three-game series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, July 23 to tie the series 1-all.
The Angels’ Vernon Wells launched a dazzling 387-feet long one-run homer off Orioles’ starter Brad Bergesen to provide his team an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, Bergesen made a perfect come-back and held the Angels scoreless in
his later innings.
He tossed five more innings and allowed only five scoreless hits and two walks to snatch his second win of the season. He tossed 53 strikes of 80 pitches of his six innings spell to improve his record to 2-6 with 5.54 ERA. Although he has some shaky pitching,
his first win since May 28 after nine consecutive losses has created some confidence in his arm.
"My stuff isn't the plus-plus, nasty big-league-type stuff," Bergesen said. "So for me to fall behind in the counts makes it tough in regards to keep pounding the strike zone and getting ahead of guys."
Orioles’ Allan Jones launched a ballistic homer off the Angels’ starter Joel Pineiro in the bottom of the fourth inning to reduce the score 2-1. In the next inning, Nick Markakis singled to centre-field, allowing Robert Andino a game tying score. Jones contributed
again, this time with his sacrifice fly hit that took his club into a 3-2 leading position.
Although Jones played a vital role in the Orioles win after two consecutive losses, he still expressed ambition to be a part of the resurgent squad, who has won only five of their last 22 games.
"I want to have a big second half," he said. "I was a little frustrated going into the break. I just said, 'You know, this game is bigger than me.' So I just have to go out and try to get what I can get, and just come out and have the right attitude."
Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara and closer Kevin Gregg provided full support to their starter, holding the Angels scoreless over their short spells. Gregg tossed a single-hitter game to earn his 16th save of the season.
Pineiro allowed eleven hits over just five innings spell. He also allowed three runs and one homer to receive his fifth win of the season. Rich Thompson, Horacio Ramirez and closer Fernando Rodney did not allow any run over their short spells.
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