The Angels' bats went silent in a 2-0 shutout loss to the Orioles on June 14. Charlie Morton dominated, striking out Mike Trout and the Halos 14 times.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was another frustrating night to be an Angels fan. Despite a solid effort from the bullpen, the Halos' bats went completely silent at Camden Yards, falling 2-0 to the Baltimore Orioles in a game that felt all too familiar. Fourteen strikeouts, runners left stranded, and another tally in the loss column—it's a story the team, and its supporters, are tired of reading.
The Angels managed just six hits and struck out 14 times.
The Angels' lineup simply had no answer for Orioles starter Charlie Morton. The veteran right-hander was masterful, racking up a season-high 10 strikeouts over five dominant innings. The Halos' best shot came and went in the fourth inning, when back-to-back singles put runners on, but Morton promptly fanned newly acquired LaMonte Wade Jr. and escaped the jam. Big bats like Mike Trout, Jorge Soler, and Logan O'Hoppe were rendered ineffective, contributing to the staggering team total of 14 punchouts. It's a troubling trend that underscores the team's recent struggles.
While the offense sputtered, the pitching staff at least gave the team a chance. Starter Jack Kochanowicz battled through 4 1/3 innings, tagged with the loss after allowing two solo home runs to Ryan O'Hearn and Ramón Laureano. While he fell to 3-8 on the season, the real story on the mound was the bullpen. Four relievers combined to throw 3 2/3 perfect, scoreless innings, keeping the Orioles' bats quiet and the deficit at a manageable two runs. In a season of struggles, the bullpen's reliability has been a consistent bright spot.
The newest Angel, LaMonte Wade Jr., was thrown right into the fire, making his debut in the starting lineup. Acquired from the Giants to provide outfield depth, his presence is a necessity with Mike Trout still not ready for full-time duty in right field and Jorge Soler nursing groin tightness. Wade Jr. went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his first game, a tough introduction against Morton's buzzsaw performance. The hope is that as he settles in, he can provide the spark and on-base presence the lineup desperately needs.
The Angels will look to salvage the series tomorrow and, more importantly, find a way to jumpstart this dormant offense. A strong bullpen can only keep you in games for so long; eventually, the bats have to wake up. With the offense stuck in neutral, the pressure mounts to avoid another wasted season. All eyes will be on the lineup tomorrow to see if they can finally break through.
