Bring on the left-handed starters. Line up the opponents. Crank up the music, colored lights and smoke machines.
The 2025 Orioles are only 10 games below .500.
It used to be a lot worse.
Cade Povich tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and Seranthony Domínguez inherited a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and protected a three-run lead. Gary Sánchez inflated it until the seams popped with a grand slam, and the Orioles completed their latest sweep with an 11-2 victory over the Angels before an announced crowd of 33,370 at Camden Yards that sat through a light steady rain.
The Orioles (30-40) haven’t ventured this close to .500 since May 14. They got here by sweeping three of their last five series.
The record against lefties improved to 6-15 with wins the past two days over Tyler Anderson and Yusei Kikuchi. The Rays are starting four right-handers this week in Tampa, so the resurgence is put on ice.
Who’s gonna cool off the Orioles, winners of 11 of their last 15 and 14 of 20?
Sánchez was reinstated from the injured list over the weekend and homered in back-to-back games. Gunnar Henderson drew an intentional walk from Connor Brogdon to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Ramón Laureano struck out and Sánchez barreled a fastball above the strike zone and sent it over the fence in left-center field.
Jordan Westburg piled on with a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning, his third since his reinstatement from the injured list on Tuesday.
Laureano had a tie-breaking single off Kikuchi in the third inning after Henderson’s left-on-left leadoff double. Henderson also singled in the first. He began the day with a career 1.217 OPS against the Angels.
Cedric Mullins was 2-for-19 with eight strikeouts – two of them today – against Kikuchi before his bunt single in the sixth. Kikuchi, who brought a 2.92 ERA into the game, fielded the ball and fired it into right field, allowing Sánchez to score from first base after his single. Coby Mayo followed with a double for a 5-2 lead, and manager Ron Washington made the pitching change.
Mayo had his first career multi-hit game yesterday and reached twice today with a walk and double.
The left-handed opposing starter, day-to-day status of a few players and desire to rest others jumbled the Orioles’ lineup.
Westburg moved back up to the leadoff spot. Ramón Urías hit second. Sánchez caught Scott Blewett, chosen as the opener in a shuffling that put Povich in bulk relief.
Blewett retired eight of his first nine batters, the loud exception being Nolan Schanuel with a home run to center field in the first inning. The Orioles immediately went to work bailing him out. A nine-pitch at-bat for Westburg concluded with a ground ball that ricocheted off third baseman Kevin Newman and became a two-base hustle error.
Westburg could have held at first, because Urías followed with a 410-foot home run to left field. Urías also doubled in the seventh before Henderson’s intentional walk.
Zach Neto doubled off Blewett with two outs in the third, Povich entered, and the Angels tied the score on Schanuel’s single and a wild pitch. Blewett threw 38 pitches, 24 strikes, and was charged with two runs in 2 2/3.
Povich retired 10 in a row after Schanuel’s single. Taylor Ward led off the seventh with a ground ball up the middle, Jorge Soler walked and Luis Rengifo singled with one out to load the bases. Domínguez got a called third strike on Jo Adell with the count full and fanned pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. with his new splitter.
Domínguez has become a real weapon out of the ‘pen with no runs, two hits, three walks and 16 strikeouts in his last 9 1/3 innings since May 26.
* The Orioles claimed right-hander Kyle Tyler on waivers from the Phillies and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. The 40-man roster is full.
Tyler, 28, hasn’t pitched in the majors this season. The Phillies claimed him from the Marlins in August 2024. He’s appeared in 15 games, including seven starts with Miami last year, and posted a 4.31 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 48 innings.
Tyler broke into the majors with the Angels in 2021 and had two relief appearances with the Padres in 2022. He registered a 4.31 ERA and 1.404 WHIP this year in 12 starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
* Chayce McDermott allowed four runs and four hits today in 4 1/3 innings, with three walks, five strikeouts and two wild pitches. His ERA with Norfolk is 9.41. Cionel Pérez tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings with three hits, one walk and one strikeout.
Heston Kjerstad, serving as designated hitter in his first game since the Orioles optioned him last week, went 1-for-5.
* The Orioles are promoting right-hander Blake Money from High-A Aberdeen to Double-A Chesapeake. Money, a 12th-rounder out of LSU in 2023, has a 3.57 ERA and 1.245 WHIP in 11 games (nine starts), and he’s struck out 65 batters in 53 innings.