Upton's Walk-Off Single Puts Angels Past Orioles
ANAHEIM (AP) — Justin Upton hit a walk-off single with the bases loaded, and the Los Angeles Angels blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning before snapping a four-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
Martin Maldonado and Ian Kinsler delivered one-out singles in the ninth against Brad Brach (0-1) before Mike Trout drew his fourth walk to load the bases. Upton, who had gone 0 for 3 after Trout's three previous walks, lined a clean single to left.
Nick Tropeano pitched scoreless one-hit ball into the seventh inning for Los Angeles, but was denied a victory when Cam Bedrosian (1-0) blew his second save in three chances this season.
Manny Machado had a run-scoring double before Adam Jones delivered the tying RBI single off Bedrosian, who struggled in place of injured closer Keynan Middleton.
Luis Valbuena also homered for the Angels, who picked up just their second home victory in 10 games since April 8.
Machado had two hits and a key throwing error for the Orioles, who have lost seven of nine.
Shohei Ohtani went 1 for 4 with a sharp fourth-inning double, getting a hit for the 11th time in 12 games as the Angels' designated hitter. The two-way rookie sensation's next pitching start has been pushed back until at least this weekend.
Alex Cobb pitched six solid innings of seven-hit ball for Baltimore, but the Angels abruptly opened the scoring after Andrelton Simmons' two-out double in the sixth. Machado apparently was trying to double up Simmons at second base when he winged a high throw over the bag, and Simmons started running while the ball bounced all the way out of play near the Orioles' dugout, allowing him to score.
Tropeano left to an ovation after retiring 13 of his final 14 batters.
TAKE YOUR BASE
Trout was intentionally walked three times by Baltimore manager Buck Showalter, each time with first base open. His four walks are the most by an Angels player since David Freese also walked four times on June 8, 2014.
STAYING PUT
Albert Pujols went 0 for 4, leaving him at 2,996 career hits. He is 2 for 16 on the Angels' homestand.
SISCO HURT
Orioles catcher Chance Sisco appeared to get knocked unconscious when he slid into teammate Pedro Alvarez's outstretched elbow while they chased a foul popup in the seventh inning. Sisco, who is from nearby Corona, California, eventually walked off the field.
SKID SNAPPED
Angels catcher Martin Maldonado ended his career-worst 0-for-34 hitless streak with a third-inning single. The Gold Glove winner hadn't managed a hit since April 10, but he avoided the franchise-record hitless stretch endured last year by Danny Espinosa, who went 0 for 38. Maldonado added a double off the wall in the seventh and a single in the ninth.
TRUMBO BACK
Designated hitter Mark Trumbo went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in his season debut for Baltimore. The former Angels slugger and Anaheim native spent April on the disabled list with a quadriceps strain.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: To make room for Trumbo's healthy return, Baltimore sent OF Joey Rickard back to Triple-A Norfolk.
Angels: Middleton went on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. He can return to the bullpen May 8.
UP NEXT
Orioles: Dylan Bundy (1-3, 2.97 ERA) has lost three of his last four starts, but the right-hander pitched well for most of April, taking two hard-luck defeats before getting drilled by Tampa Bay for seven earned runs last week.
Angels: Andrew Heaney (0-1, 6.91 ERA) struck out nine Yankees in five innings while getting no decision last week. He has allowed nine runs in 10 2/3 innings in his two career starts against Baltimore.
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