ANAHEIM -- The Angels had scored 27 runs in their previous three games entering Monday, winning their last two.
The bats seemingly did not make the trip home in the Angels’ 6-1 loss to the Orioles on Monday night at Angel Stadium, but Jorge Soler provided some fireworks with a ninth-inning homer in his first game back after missing nearly three weeks with an oblique injury.
It was the 16th time the Angels have scored one run or fewer this season, and they only had a runner reach scoring position twice against former Angels prospect Kyle Bradish.
Bradish, a fourth-round Angels Draft pick in 2018 who was traded to the Orioles in 2019 in exchange for Dylan Bundy, allowed just six singles through eight scoreless innings and had nine strikeouts.
“I thought they were taking good swings early in the count and just missing them,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “He did a good job of missing barrels and moving the ball around.”
In a game in which the Angels desperately needed baserunners, they never attempted a bunt against the Orioles -- who had outfielder Leody Taveras playing third base for the first time in his seven-year career.
Taveras entered the game in the third inning as a defensive replacement for Blaze Alexander, who left the game with right knee discomfort after hitting a foul ball off his leg. Taveras had played 600 games in the Major Leagues entering Monday and had never played an inning in the infield.
Suzuki said the Angels discussed bunting, but due to a multi-run deficit they elected to hunt for big innings.
“If we weren’t chasing four runs, it would be a little different story,” Suzuki said. “Chasing four runs, you’re trying to play for some bigger innings to try to get back in the game. It definitely crossed the mind. We talked about it.”
The game started off with a familiar sight for the Angels -- a leadoff home run by Taylor Ward. Except this time, Ward did it in an opposing uniform.
It was the 12th career leadoff home run for Ward, 10 of which came during his tenure with the Angels.
Angels starter Sam Aldegheri retired the next nine Orioles before things began to implode in the fourth. Aldegheri walked Gunnar Henderson to lead off the inning and then allowed a single to Pete Alonso. In the ensuing at-bat, Aldegheri gave up a three-run home run to Coby Mayo to give the Orioles a 4-0 lead.
“Looking back, it should have been a different pitch, maybe. But probably not the best location,” Aldegheri said. “Of course I’m not satisfied. It’s frustrating. [I] didn’t really give a chance to the team to win the game.”
Aldegheri loaded the bases in the fifth inning and allowed a sacrifice fly to Alonso before being taken out with a 5-0 deficit.
Soler’s solo home run came in the ninth inning against Rico Garcia for the Angels’ lone run. It was the 10th homer of the season for Soler, and his first in 13 games dating back to May 20.
The Angels’ biggest opportunity to score against Bradish came in the first inning with back-to-back singles by Nolan Schanuel and Jo Adell. Bradish struck out Soler and got Wade Meckler to ground out to finish the inning unscathed.