ANAHEIM–What happened? In the third inning of Monday night’s game, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was faced with a difficult decision. Blaze Alexander, the team’s hottest hitter, needed to leave the game an inning after fouling a ball off his right knee.
Jackson Holliday was out of the lineup for the second straight game with groin tightness, and Coby Mayo, the team’s other third baseman, was the designated hitter.
Albernaz called on Leody Taveras, an outfielder, to play third base for the first time in his professional career, and Taveras, using Alexander’s glove, immediately handled a grounder by the Los Angeles Angels’ Jose Siri.
With infield coach Miguel Cairo directing Taveras’ positioning, he didn’t have another chance in the Orioles’ 6-1 win over Los Angeles before 28,431 at Angels Stadium.
Taveras was moved to center field in the eighth inning, and Mayo moved to third.
“I was feeling weird because of where I’m at, but after that, it was pretty good,” Taveras said. “After the first ground ball, it was good.”
It was the Orioles’ third straight win, their fifth three-game winning streak, and their 38-42 record keeps them two games out of the final wild-card spot.
Oriole starter Kyle Bradish (5-7) pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing six hits. It was the Orioles’ longest outing of 2026. Bradish walked one and struck out nine after striking out 12 in his previous game.
Bradish was puzzled when he realized he had a new third baseman.
“I was confused when I first looked out there, and then the ball gets hit the first at-bat, right to him, made a great play,” Bradish said. “Who knows? Maybe he’ll be out there.”
Jorge Soler homered against Rico Garcia to begin the ninth.
Taylor Ward, who spent his first eight seasons with the Angels and was traded for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, celebrated his return with a leadoff home run, his fifth, against Sam Aldegheri (2-3). Coby Mayo, batting cleanup, gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead with a three-run home run in the fourth.
Pete Alonso’s sacrifice fly in the fifth and Gunnar Henderson’s RBI triple in the seventh put the Orioles ahead, 6-0.
Taveras had two hits, a double and single.
Just before the game, the Orioles designated outfielder Michael Siani for assignment and purchased the contract of catcher Chadwick Tromp.
How did Taveras do? It didn’t bother Taveras to play an unfamiliar position.
“Excited, excited, honestly. Because it was a pretty nice opportunity down there,” he said. “You have to find a way to help the team. That’s all I had in my mind, so I go out there, catch the ball and make the out.”
He listened intently to Cairo’s instructions.
“Just go out there and play,” he was told. “The most important thing was the positioning. I was worried about that. And he said, ‘No, I got you, I’ll move you.’ So it was pretty smooth.”
Taveras wasn’t surprised he got a ball hit to him right away.
“I was anticipating that,” he said. “It’s crazy how those things happen.”
How did Albernaz make the decision to play Taveras? Alexander’s knee locked up and Albernaz asked for volunteers to play third. Colton Cowser thought about it, but he knew Taveras was the better choice.
“He does take ground balls regularly,” Albernaz said. “Not on the infield, but in the outfield and stuff. We talked about it previously that he could play in the infield, so we were going with Leody, and he makes a great backhand play his first play. Blaze is all right, though. It was fun, but also a little nerve-wracking, as well.”
Cairo positioned him on every play.
“It’s someone just being selfless and going out there, and he helped the team when we needed him,” Cairo said. “The ball is always going to find you when you play a different position, and it found him and he did a good job.”
How did Bradish pitch? “It’s just when he’s efficient like that and throwing strikes, and we keep on talking about the two fastball shapes, the two breaking balls, when he’s dialed like that — and as a hitter, you have to make a decision on if that’s going to be a slider away or a curveball away, especially righties, and then it’s the sinker that starts as a ball and comes back as a strike, it’s extremely difficult,” Albernaz said.
“That’s what KB was doing. When he’s efficient like that and attacking strikes on all of his pitches, it’s really tough for hitters to make a swing decision on that. Not surprised with what KB did tonight, but also, it’s a testament to the work he’s put in and how elite stuff he has.”
What does it mean? The Orioles hope to have Alexander back quickly and don’t expect to see Taveras back on third any time soon.
What’s the stat of the day? 5. Each of Ward’s five home runs have been hit on the road.
What’s the word? “I was anticipating that. It’s crazy how those things happen.”-Taveras on having the first ball hit to him
What’s next? Shane Baz (4-7, 4.04) will start against Ryan Johnson (0-2, 12.83) on Tuesday at 9:38 p.m.
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