The Angels lost 11-2 to the Orioles on June 15, 2025, getting swept despite a Nolan Schanuel HR & 10 Ks from Yusei Kikuchi. Read how it unraveled.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day that started with a spark of hope and ended in a familiar cloud of despair. The Los Angeles Angels were thoroughly dismantled by the Baltimore Orioles 11-2 on Sunday, completing a lopsided three-game sweep at the hands of a team that simply has their number. A first-inning home run from Nolan Schanuel was a distant memory by the final out, as a seventh-inning collapse sealed another frustrating defeat.
The Angels were outscored 27-7 in the series, as Baltimore improved to 20-6 against them since 2022.
For a brief moment, it looked like Sunday might be different. Nolan Schanuel led off the game with a solo blast, giving the Angels a 1-0 lead before many fans had settled in their seats. But the optimism was short-lived. The Orioles answered back immediately in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer from Ramón Urías. After that, the Angels' offense went back into hibernation, managing just five total hits and squandering their best opportunity to get back in the game.
On the mound, Yusei Kikuchi's final line tells a story of conflict. The left-hander was electric at times, racking up 10 strikeouts against a potent Orioles lineup. However, he was also tagged for a season-high five runs (three earned) over his 5⅔ innings of work. Defensive miscues and timely Baltimore hitting, including a key bunt single, unraveled his outing in the sixth, leading to his sixth loss of the season despite the impressive strikeout total.
The game truly fell apart in the seventh inning. Trailing 5-2, the Angels loaded the bases with one out, a golden opportunity to make it a one-run game. But Orioles reliever Seranthony Domínguez slammed the door, striking out both Jo Adell and LaMonte Wade Jr. to end the threat. As if to rub salt in the wound, the Orioles came to bat and put the game away for good. Reliever Connor Brogdon was tagged for a two-out, bases-loaded blast by Gary Sánchez, a grand slam that pushed the score to 9-2 and sent the remaining Angels fans heading for the exits.
There's no time to dwell on this disastrous series, as the New York Yankees roll into town for a four-game set starting Monday. Right-hander José Soriano gets the ball in the opener, tasked with the monumental job of stopping the bleeding and giving this team a chance to wash away the bitter taste of being swept. It's a tough task, but a new series offers a clean slate. The Halos desperately need one.
