ANAHEIM–What happened? Shane Baz had been pitching well for the Orioles. Since May 15th, Baz had delivered five quality starts in seven outings.
His start on Tuesday night wasn’t very good. The 27-year-old right-hander allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings against the Los Angeles Angels in a 5-1 Orioles loss before 31,569 at Angel Stadium.
The Angels (33-48) started Ryan Johnson, a second-round draft pick in 2024, who had a 12.83 ERA in his first five appearances of the season.
Johnson (1-2) allowed just one hit in six innings, a single by Jeremiah Jackson with one out in the sixth, striking out eight and walking one.
“It was him. I mean, he pitched,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposing pitcher, and he was on tonight. It was a different look for our guys.
“We haven’t seen him before. And like I said, his stuff was on, and he did a great job of throwing strikes and it was a push-pull effect with his fastball and his off-speed pitches, and we just couldn’t get on time for anything.”
The 6-foot-6, 23-year-old right-hander retired the first seven Orioles, and after Tyler O’Neill’s walk with one out in the third, set down nine until Jackson singled. Taylor Ward hit into a double play to end the sixth.
The Orioles, who finish the mathematical first half of the season with a 38-43 record, need to win on Wednesday to secure a winning road trip. They lost two of three in Seattle, won two of three against the Dodgers and have split the first two games here.
In the first half of the season, the Orioles had six three-game winning streaks, but none longer.
Nolan Schanuel hit a two-run home run against Baz (4-8) in the first, and he allowed four straight hits in the fifth. Vaughn Grissom’s two-run single and Jorge Soler’s sacrifice fly put the Orioles behind, 5-0.
Baz allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings.
“I made a couple of bad pitches, for sure,” Baz said. “The homer, probably not a great pitch. We knew they were going to swing a lot. But, yeah, battled through after the first inning. Just balls finding holes and stuff like that. I feel like the last inning, just a couple balls finding a hole. I was kind of happy with the way I attacked, but just really didn’t go my way tonight.”
The Orioles scored their run against Samy Natera in the seventh on an RBI single by Leody Taveras.
Ryan Zeferjahn struck out the side in the eighth, and Sam Bachman pitched a spotless ninth.
What made Johnson so tough to hit? “I mean, I think it’s a little funky,” Coby Mayo said. “I think he made good pitches in good spots. Obviously, I think we’re more than capable of handling him, and sometimes it’s not your night. Last night, did well, and today we didn’t. Props to him, but obviously you want to have a better result and come out tomorrow and compete.”
Mayo said there’s no mystery to seeing a pitcher for the first time.
“Not really, because there’s so much video out there. You can look back to Triple-A starts, big league starts. There’s a lot of video out there. Obviously, seeing someone new for the first time is a little different, especially someone who’s a little funky like him, so that could be a little different. But, you know, no excuses.”
What was wrong with Baz? He’s allowed 13 runs in the first inning this season, more than in any other inning.
“I don’t know if it’s command or feel,” Albernaz said. “That’s something you probably have to ask him, but it just seems like he’s, the past couple of starts, he’s trying to settle into the game as soon as he steps on the mound, like pushing the tempo and pushing the pace. That’s when he’s at his best, when he has the ball, he’s pushing the pace, pushing the tempo, not kind of settling into the game, feeling it out. He’s dictating the pace.”
What does it mean? The Orioles continued their maddening first half. They won three straight and hoped to make it four straight. They’ll have to put together longer winning streaks to contend.
What’s the stat of the day? 3. The Orioles equaled their season low with three hits. It’s the sixth time they’ve been held to three hits.
What’s the word? “He came out of the gates a little slow. And, you know, he kind of hit his stride in the third, fourth inning, and then in the fifth, obviously, it got, not out of hand, but he did a good job of limiting damage, he just couldn’t keep the runs off the scoreboard.”-Albernaz on Baz
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Anderson De Los Santos hit a three-run home run as Double-A Chesapeake beat Harrisburg, 4-2. Luis De Leon gave up two runs on three hits in five innings, striking out eighth.
Carson Dorsey pitched five hitless innings in relief as High-A Frederick held Wilmington to one hit in a 5-0 win.
Single-A Delmarva was held to two his in its 9-1 loss to Fayetteville.
What’s next? The Orioles will conclude their road trip on Wednesday. Trey Gibson (1-2, 5.81) will start against José Soriano at 4:07 p.m.
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