Miguel Gonzalez pitches a gem as the Orioles beat the Angels
The Orioles have posted back-to-back wins against the team with the best home record in the majors and their pitching has led the way.
Miguel Gonzalez pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs tonight as the Orioles beat the Angels 4-2. The Orioles have allowed four runs in two games to the highest scoring team in the majors.
The Angels entered this series with wins in 20 of their last 23 and 25 of 30 home games. But by taking the first two games, the Orioles have ended the Angels' club-record of 10 straight home series wins.
Gonzalez took a 4-0 lead into the eighth. His shutout bid ended when he allowed a two-run homer to Mike Trout, who had been 0-for-7 in the series.
Gonzalez allowed just three hits and the two runs with four walks and five strikeouts. He improves to 5-5 with an ERA of 3.91.
Over his last three starts, Gonzalez has allowed just five earned runs over 23 2/3 innings for an ERA of 1.90. He has given up two earned runs or less in eight of his last 11 starts.
Tommy Hunter got the last out of the eighth and Zach Britton pitched the ninth to record his 18th save in 21 chances and second in two nights in this series.
Meanwhile, the Orioles' winning rally in the sixth inning began with a weakly hit infield single with two outs and none on. Right-hander Mike Morin came on that inning in relief of starter Hector Santiago in a 0-0 tie. He was facing Chris Davis, who reached on an infield hit against the shift to the left side of the infield. That kept the inning alive for what happened next.
J.J. Hardy smoked an 0-1 pitch to right-center for an RBI double and 1-0 lead. Jonathan Schoop followed with a two-run homer to center on an 0-1 pitch for a 3-0 lead.
It was Schoop's eighth homer. All eight have come on the road and all have come against right-handed pitchers.
Schoop was batting ninth in the original batting order, but moved up to seventh when Manny Machado was a late scratch due to lower back tightness.
Morin entered his outing tonight with a .148 average against and .213 slugging average allowed to right-handed hitters, giving up just one double and one homer in 61 at-bats.
The Orioles added an insurance run in the eighth on doubles by Nelson Cruz and Hardy, for his second RBI of the game. In five games on this trip, Hardy is 6-for-17 with three doubles, a homer and four RBIs.
The Orioles improved to a season-high 11 games over .500 at 55-44 and maintain a four-game lead atop the American League East after New York and Toronto won tonight. The Orioles have won nine of 13 and 13 of 18 games. They are 14-6 in their last 20 road games.
With a chance for their first three-game sweep in Anaheim since Aug. 27-29, 2010, Chris Tillman (7-5, 4.03 ERA) faces Jered Weaver (10-6, 3.43 ERA) on Wednesday night.
The Angels entered this series with wins in 20 of their last 23 and 25 of 30 home games. But by taking the first two games, the Orioles have ended the Angels' club-record of 10 straight home series wins.
Gonzalez took a 4-0 lead into the eighth. His shutout bid ended when he allowed a two-run homer to Mike Trout, who had been 0-for-7 in the series.
Gonzalez allowed just three hits and the two runs with four walks and five strikeouts. He improves to 5-5 with an ERA of 3.91.
Over his last three starts, Gonzalez has allowed just five earned runs over 23 2/3 innings for an ERA of 1.90. He has given up two earned runs or less in eight of his last 11 starts.
Tommy Hunter got the last out of the eighth and Zach Britton pitched the ninth to record his 18th save in 21 chances and second in two nights in this series.
Meanwhile, the Orioles' winning rally in the sixth inning began with a weakly hit infield single with two outs and none on. Right-hander Mike Morin came on that inning in relief of starter Hector Santiago in a 0-0 tie. He was facing Chris Davis, who reached on an infield hit against the shift to the left side of the infield. That kept the inning alive for what happened next.
J.J. Hardy smoked an 0-1 pitch to right-center for an RBI double and 1-0 lead. Jonathan Schoop followed with a two-run homer to center on an 0-1 pitch for a 3-0 lead.
It was Schoop's eighth homer. All eight have come on the road and all have come against right-handed pitchers.
Schoop was batting ninth in the original batting order, but moved up to seventh when Manny Machado was a late scratch due to lower back tightness.
Morin entered his outing tonight with a .148 average against and .213 slugging average allowed to right-handed hitters, giving up just one double and one homer in 61 at-bats.
The Orioles added an insurance run in the eighth on doubles by Nelson Cruz and Hardy, for his second RBI of the game. In five games on this trip, Hardy is 6-for-17 with three doubles, a homer and four RBIs.
The Orioles improved to a season-high 11 games over .500 at 55-44 and maintain a four-game lead atop the American League East after New York and Toronto won tonight. The Orioles have won nine of 13 and 13 of 18 games. They are 14-6 in their last 20 road games.
With a chance for their first three-game sweep in Anaheim since Aug. 27-29, 2010, Chris Tillman (7-5, 4.03 ERA) faces Jered Weaver (10-6, 3.43 ERA) on Wednesday night.
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