Robinson Chirinos had two hits and drove in three runs, Bruce Zimmermann threw an effective six-plus innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Zimmermann was especially good through five innings, shutting the Angels out on three hits while not allowing an Angels baserunner to get as far as second base.
But in the sixth, a single by Max Stassi and subsequent error by left fielder Anthony Santander allowed the Angels to put a baserunner in scoring position for the first time in the game.
Though down 5-0 at the time, Angels manager Joe Maddon played for one run, having Jo Adell bunt Stassi to third base. Stassi then scored on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Velazquez to make it 5-1.
Zimmermann stayed in the game to start the seventh, but walked Mike Trout before yielding a two-run homer to Anthony Rendon, bringing the Angels to within 5-3. Right-hander Felix Bautista then came on to pitch.
Zimmermann (1-0) earned the win after giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk, striking out six while making 76 pitches.
Zimmermann got three double plays from the defense behind him, and the Orioles added a fourth double play to end the eighth inning. Jorge Lopez pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.
The Orioles took the lead in the second inning against Angels starter Reid Detmers (0-1). Santander led off with a walk, and one out later went to third on a single by Ramon Urias.
On the play, Santander drew a throw to third, allowing Urias to take second. It turned out to be a key play, as Chirinos followed with a single to drive home both baserunners for a 2-0 Orioles lead.
Meanwhile, Zimmermann was sharp. He gave up a single in both the second and third innings but got a double play in each inning. In the fourth, he struck out the top of the Angels order – Shohei Ohtani, Trout and Rendon.
He gave up another single in the fifth but got his third infield double play of the night to escape again.
Detmers allowed only the two-run single by Chirinos and nothing else. In five innings, the lefty allowed three hits and one walk while striking out four and making 70 pitches.
The Orioles added to their lead in the sixth against the Angels bullpen, stringing together four singles to begin the inning that ultimately led to a three-run inning.
–Field Level Media
