BALTIMORE — The Orioles (24-59) avoided a winless home stand with an 8-2 win over the Angels (43-42) on Sunday afternoon, but dropped two of three to Los Angeles in a weekend series at Camden Yards. Los Angeles snapped a six-game losing streak on Friday night, and the O’s broke a seven-game losing skid with Sunday’s win. Los Angeles took the season series against Baltimore 5-1.

Game 1 (7-1 LAA): David Hess‘s struggles in the month of June continued in Friday’s opener. Mike Trout, batting second, got the Angels on the board right away in the first inning with his eighth career home run at Camden Yards to put Los Angeles on the board 1-0. Trout returned to center-field on Friday after playing the previous nine games as the designated hitter due to a sprained finger.

While the Orioles offense went quiet yet again, the Angels continued to find success at the expense of Hess. In the third inning, Hess began the frame by hitting Trout. Trout advanced to second on a single by Justin Upton and scored on another single by Andrelton Simmons. Upton made it to third on the play, and scored Los Angeles’s third run when Luis Valbuena grounded into a force-out to make it 3-0.

Los Angeles doubled their lead in the sixth inning. Simmons led off with a two-bagger and advanced to third on a Valbuena single. After Ian Kinsler grounded out, Simmons scored on a fielder’s choice. David Fletcher then brought Valbuena home on a double, allowing Maldonado to reach third base. Maldonado scored on a sacrifice fly by Kole Calhoun.

After Hess intentionally walked Trout, Buck Showalter made the change to new call-up Ryan Meisinger. In 5.2 innings, Hess allowed six runs on nine hits, two walks, and two strikeouts on 84 pitches, 57 strikes. Hess finishes the month of June with an 8.37 ERA in five starts, having allowed five or more runs in four of those five outings.

Meisinger, along with another call-up, Paul Fry, made their major league debuts on Friday night. Meisinger was the culprit of the Angels’ final run of the night in the eighth inning when Maldonado hit his fifth home run of the season. Over 3.1 innings, Meisinger and Fry collectively allowed one run on four hits and three strikeouts. Both arms will be needed in a depleted Orioles bullpen that will likely live on without Darren O’Day for the rest of the season (hamstring surgery).

The Orioles scored their lone run of the game in the ninth inning when Adam Jones singled to right field to plate Trey Mancini. With no outs, Eduardo Paredes retired the next three Orioles hitters on 17 pitches as Manny Machado flew out, and both Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo struck out to make it a 7-1 final. Hess took the loss and Angels starter Felix Peña earned his first win in three starts. He tossed 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

Game 2 (6-2 LAA): Click here for Nolan McGraw‘s full recap of game 2.

Game 3 (8-2 BAL): The Orioles’ power bats came alive on a sweltering 94-degree afternoon affair, hitting four home runs over the first five innings. Machado got the Orioles on the board in the fourth inning with a two-run dinger to left-center, scoring Jones in the process. Trumbo hit two solo home runs in back-to-back innings (fourth and fifth). Following Trumbo’s second homer, Davis flew out, but Mancini added a solo shot of his own for the Orioles’ fourth and final home run of the afternoon.

Along with Machado and Trumbo’s fourth inning homers, the Orioles scored two additional runs on a Steve Wilkerson double that plated Davis, and a Tim Beckham double that brought Wilkerson home.

The O’s did not score any runs after the fifth inning, but Kevin Gausman‘s eight-inning start kept any potential Angels threat at bay. Calhoun crossed the plate twice off Gausman – hitting a leadoff double in the first inning, scoring on an Albert Pujols single, and an eighth inning solo home run.

Gausman earned his fourth win of the season (104 pitches, 73 strikes), limiting the Angels to six hits with two strikeouts. He did not allow a walk in his longest outing since Apr. 23 against Cleveland, also an eight-inning performance that actually ended with a loss. Gausman’s season record now stands at 4-6 with a 4.05 ERA. Los Angeles starter Deck McGuire took the loss, lasting just 3.1 innings after allowing five runs on five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. McGuire is the 12th starting pitcher the Angels have used this season, which ties a league high.

Up next: The Orioles embark on their final road trip before the All-Star break, which will be a two-city, six-game trip. First up, the Orioles continue their four-game season series against the Phillies with a two-game tilt at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia leads the season series 1-0 with a 4-1 win over the O’s on June 16. The two teams will meet again on July 12 at Camden Yards for a makeup game stemming from a June 15 rainout. After Philly, the Birds travel to Target Field for a four-game set with the Twins. Minnesota won the Opening Weekend series over Baltimore 2-1 at OPACY.

Image Credit: Express News