Orioles win 3rd straight, 6-1 over Angels, behind gem, unlikely hero

Jacob Calvin Meyer, The Baltimore Sun on Jun 23, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

ANAHEIM, Calif. — After winning two straight games over the best team in baseball, the Orioles made the quick drive to Orange County to play the American League’s worst team.

The result was the same.

The Orioles played Monday the same way they had Sunday when they dominated the Dodgers for a 12-1 win. Their victory Monday over the lowly Angels was just as convincing — a 6-1 triumph behind another powerful offensive performance, a gem from Kyle Bradish and a stunning effort from someone playing way out of position.

Baltimore’s bats put up double-digit hits for the second straight game thanks in large part again to the long ball. Taylor Ward and Coby Mayo both homered in the first four innings to give the Orioles a 4-0 lead — far more run support than Bradish needed.

For the second straight start, the right-hander looked like the ace he has the potential to be. After he struck out 12 batters against the Seattle Mariners last week, Bradish was just as superb Monday, striking out nine across eight scoreless innings for his best start since he underwent Tommy John surgery almost exactly two years ago.

The Orioles hardly needed a stellar defensive performance with the way Bradish was pitching. But in the third inning, Leody Taveras made one of the most interesting plays of the Orioles’ season, but it wasn’t in the outfield. After Blaze Alexander injured his knee, manager Craig Albernaz put Taveras in to play third base for the first time in his 11-year professional career.

On the first batter of the inning, a routine grounder was hit to Taveras, who fielded it cleanly and fired it to first base for the out. With Mayo at designated hitter and Jackson Holliday nursing a groin injury, the Orioles were without an infielder to put in for Alexander. Taveras played five innings there, and could perhaps end his infield career with a 1.000 fielding percentage.

The lone run the Orioles allowed came on the first pitch of the ninth inning from reliever Rico Garcia, who gave up a mammoth blast to Jorge Soler. But Garcia retired the next three batters in order, securing the win.

The victory improves Baltimore to 38-42 to keep the club close in the AL wild-card race. The Orioles are two back of the Toronto Blue Jays (39-39) for the third and final spot.

______