Orioles top Angels 6-5 on June 15, 2025, after back-to-back HRs from Mullins & Sánchez. Félix Bautista hits 100 MPH to seal the thrilling victory.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For a moment in the sixth inning, it felt like old times. Then, in the ninth, it felt like the future. The Orioles gave the Camden Yards faithful a Sunday to remember, using back-to-back home runs and a resurgent Félix Bautista throwing absolute gas to squeak past the Los Angeles Angels 6-5.
For the first time since 2023, the radar gun flashed triple digits. 'The Mountain' is officially back.
The game turned on a dime in the bottom of the sixth. With the O's trailing, Cedric Mullins stepped up and launched a two-run shot, his 11th of the season, to give Baltimore the lead. The crowd was still buzzing when the newest Oriole, Gary Sánchez, stepped in and made his presence felt. 'The Kraken' unleashed on a pitch, sending it deep for his first home run in an Orioles uniform. The consecutive blasts turned a 4-3 deficit into a 6-4 lead, providing the exact offensive explosion this team has been searching for. For Sánchez, who was signed to provide power and depth, it was a perfect introduction to the fanbase.
As thrilling as the homers were, the biggest story of the day might have come in the ninth. All eyes were on Félix Bautista, and he delivered. Not only did he lock down his 14th save in 15 chances, but he did something we haven't seen since before his injury in 2023: he hit 100 mph on the radar gun. After 22 intense pitches, he blew a fastball by Logan O'Hoppe to end the game, a statement strikeout that echoed through the ballpark. Seeing Bautista regain his top-tier velocity is a massive development, signaling that one of the game's most dominant closers is truly back to his best.
This victory didn't come easy. Starter Tomoyuki Sugano battled, giving up an early two-run homer to superstar Mike Trout, but managed to settle in and keep the O's in the game. The win improves the Orioles' record to 28-40 under manager Tony Mansolino. While the team remains in fifth place in a brutal AL East, wins like this—fueled by veteran power and elite closing—are exactly the kind of building blocks needed. It's a reminder that even in a tough season, there's plenty of fight and excitement in this ballclub.
One win doesn't change the standings overnight, but this one felt different. It was a glimpse of the formula: timely power, gritty starting pitching, and a lights-out closer. With Sánchez already contributing and Bautista looking like his old self, the O's have reasons for optimism. Now, the challenge is to bottle this energy and carry it forward, proving that this thrilling Sunday victory is a sign of more good things to come.
