Baltimore wins with a winnable eighth inning, scoring five runs to beat the Angels 10-6 to end its losing streak. (0:43).
BALTIMORE -- After a slow start by Shohei Oktani, the Baltimore Orioles won 10-6 against Los Angeles.
The Angels led 6-2 in the fourth and 6-4 after the top of sixth. Ohtani was out of the game. Baltimore scored two runs in the seventh and five more in the eighth. Ramon Urias, Kelvin Gutierrez and Austin Hays drew bases loaded walks to bring the Orioles within 7-6.
Two losses were all that the Orioles needed to be two short of breaking the American League record for longest consecutive streak -- which they set in 1988, when they began 0-21.
"There was tension inside our dugout. There was pressure. Brandon Hyde, Orioles manager, said that everyone was on top. "Our guys wanted this one. It's all too much to hear and it's all too familiar on TV. It's all too much for everyone.
Ohtani gave up three homers and struck out three at the plate. However, the Orioles seemed headed for a 20th consecutive loss after Brandon Marsh hit his first homer of his career, a three-run shot that made it 6-2.
Jake Petricka (0-1), who allowed a single and a double to begin the bottom of the 8th, made it 6-5. To tie the game, he walked Urias on four pitches.
James Hoyt came on to strike out Jahmai Jones. But then, he walked Gutierrez for a full count. Hays doubled to leave with the bases loaded and Cedric Mullins added a sacrifice fly.
Tyler Wells was the last batter to be retired on a flyout right. He hugged Pedro Severino, and the Orioles had a casual celebration on the field. Many of the fans, many of them likely coming to see Ohtani, roared in approval.
Anthony Santander and Mullins hit solo homers in each of the first two innings, while DJ Stewart scored a two-run run off Ohtani in fourth. The Orioles finally got a chance to celebrate in their clubhouse.
Mullins described the home locker room as "electronic".
Jared Walsh also played for the Angels.
Tanner Scott (5-4) was the relief pitcher for the Orioles.
Ohtani gave up four runs and five hits over five innings. Chris Ellis made his debut in a career start and allowed three runs and five hits over three innings. He was claimed by Tampa Bay waivers on Friday by the Orioles.
Joe Maddon, Angels manager, said Ohtani was playing again "Thursday". "And I didn’t see any reason to push him at the moment of year given the circumstances."
Mullins' homer was on Ohtani’s first pitch. But Baltimore took a 2-0 lead after Santander's solo hit. The Angels tied the game almost immediately with Marsh's two-run single in the second.
Walsh homered solo for Los Angeles in the fourth. Marsh added his three-run shot in the sixth.
Mullins scored a run in the seventh inning with a groundout.
Keegan Akin (0-8), who is the Orioles' pitcher, will take the mound on Thursday when they seek to win two consecutive games. Akin allowed four runs against Los Angeles in just three innings on July 2. Jaime Barria (2-2) will be the Angels' counter.
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.
