O's game blog: Going for a series sweep in Anaheim

ANAHEIM - Most of the time this year, but not all, when the Orioles won the first two games of a three-game series, they won the third game to complete the sweep.

While the Orioles have gone 84 straight series without being swept, they have nine sweeps of their own. They have seven three-game sweeps and one of two games in the 2023 season. 

They can add to their list of sweeps tonight at Anaheim against the Angels after posting wins by 6-3 and 5-4 in 10 innings at Angel Stadium.

On their recent homestand, the Orioles twice won the first two games of a series, but they lost the third both to Colorado and the Chicago White Sox.

For the year the Orioles are 7-4 in the third game of a series where they won the first two and had a chance for a sweep.

They have three-game sweeps versus the Tigers, Blue Jays, Royals, Twins, Marlins, Mets and Athletics.

Tuesday's win secured a series win for the Orioles who are 29-13-3 in series play for the season and 15-6-2 in road series.

They are 4-1 with four straight wins on this road trip and are 45-25 on the road for the year - the best road record in the American League.

Baltimore has scored 26 runs on 48 hits during their four-game win streak, going 16-for-44 (.364) with runners in scoring position in this span.

The Orioles went to the ninth trailing last night but won the game. They are now 1-41 this season when trailing after eight innings. With a .630 win percentage through 138 games, they are on a 102-win pace. They have not won that many games since the 1979 season. 

The Birds have 24 games remaining and seven left until they host Tampa Bay in a huge four-game series.

Since July 5, the O's are 38-16 (.703), the best record in the AL in that time.

Right-hander Kyle Gibson (13-8, 5.15 ERA) will make his 29th start tonight and the Orioles are 16-12 in his first 28. He gave up seven runs in 4 1/3 in his last start against the White Sox. Over his past four games, he has allowed nine, four, three and seven runs with an ERA of 9.13 and an OPS against of 1.052.

In nine second-half starts, Gibson is 4-2 with a 6.28 ERA. He has allowed two earned runs or less 10 times this season, but zero times in his past five starts. He has 14 quality starts, but just one in his last four outings.

Patrick Sandoval (7-11, 4.19 ERA) starts for the home team and becomes the third lefty the Orioles have faced in this series. The Angels are 8-16 in his starts and 1-5 in the past six.

In Sandoval's last four games, he is 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA. In 10 home starts he is 2-5 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.529 WHIP.