Angels Cruise Past Orioles 9-5 For Fourth Straight Win
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Daniel Nava had two RBIs and made a spectacular catch to help the Los Angeles Angelsbeat the Baltimore Orioles 9-5 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory.
Mike Trout scored three runs for the Angels, who built an 8-1 lead in the fourth inning against the AL East leaders. The four-game winning streak matches a season high for the Angels, who started the day in last place in the AL West.
The victory came at a cost. First baseman C.J. Cron — who has 11 homers and 50 RBIs — fractured a bone in his left hand when hit by a pitch from Mike Wright in the sixth inning. He will see a specialist Monday, the team said.
Matt Shoemaker (4-9) allowed three runs and five hits in five-plus innings to earn his first win since May 27. The right-hander was 0-4 in his previous eight starts despite owning a respectable 3.08 ERA over that span.
Los Angeles did most of its damage against Ubaldo Jimenez (5-9), who gave up five runs, five hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings. Many in the crowd of 44,317 began booing the right-hander in the first inning, and they cheered when manager Buck Showalter finally walked to the mound to summon help from the bullpen.
Adam Jones homered on Shoemaker's first pitch, and the Orioles also got long balls from Jonathan Schoop and Mark Trumbo.
Jones' homer got Baltimore to 2-1, and two batters later Manny Machado sent a drive toward the seats in left. Nava gauged the flight of the ball while backing up, shifted to his right at the last second and reached into the front row to rob Machado of his 20th home run.
Baltimore's rocky night was personified by consecutive errors committed by three-time Gold Glove shortstop J.J. Hardy in the fourth inning. The miscues doubled his error total for the season.
After Jimenez departed, Wright hit three batters over the course of his 4 2/3-inning stint.
Schoop was plunked in the helmet by Cam Bedrosian in the sixth, prompting home plate umpire Mike Everitt to issue a warning to both clubs.
50 YEARS LATER
The Orioles paid tribute to the 1966 World Series champions with a pregame ceremony and by wearing replica uniforms of that team. Informed that the '66 Orioles used only four pitchers in a sweep of the Los AngelesDodgers, Showalter exclaimed, "C'mon man, we use four (by) the third inning!"
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: C Geovany Soto (right knee) was headed to Baltimore and could be activated Saturday. He's been on the DL since May 18. ... LHP Tyler Skaggs (shoulder) threw 75 pitches in a rehab assignment on Thursday night. "We definitely are hoping he's going to be with us and maybe part of our rotation at some point," manager Mike Scioscia said.
Orioles: LHP T.J. McFarland (left knee inflammation) will see Dr. James Andrews on Monday for a second opinion.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Nick Tropeano (3-2, 3.28 ERA) makes his 12th start of the season and first of his career against the Orioles on Saturday.
Orioles: RHP Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 6.10) has been in the league since 2007, yet he has only faced the Angelsonce. He allowed five runs in four innings last year.
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