Orioles 2 - 3 Angels
Final
  for this game

Orioles take aim at sweep of Angels

Jul 23, 2014 - 2:48 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Baltimore Orioles eye a series sweep on Wednesday when they wrap up their three-game affair with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.

After winning Monday's opener, Baltimore continued to roll on Tuesday, as Jonathan Schoop clubbed a two-run homer and Miguel Gonzalez pitched into the eighth inning to guide the Orioles to a 4-2 triumph.

Gonzalez (5-5), who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, allowed three hits, including a two-run homer to Mike Trout, over 7 2/3 innings. Gonzalez fanned five and walked four to earn his first victory since June 17.

"I'm happy about everything in general," Gonzalez said. "I was able to change speeds and our defense was great. I just wanted to give our team a chance to win the ball game."

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was scratched from the lineup due to lower back tightness. He is questionable for the finale.

"I've never felt like this before," Machado said. "It spazzed up on me. It's tight right now. I took a shot and we'll see how it feels in the morning."

Tommy Hunter retired Albert Pujols on a ground ball to end the eighth and Zach Britton retired the side in order in the ninth for his 18th save.

Efren Navarro had two of the three hits for Los Angeles, which lost its second straight for the first time since June 15-16.

"We're not quite in sync offensively," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "You're not going to square it up every night. We threw a couple of mistakes and they hit them."

Going for the O's on Wednesday will be righty Chris Tillman, who is 7-5 with a 4.03 ERA, but winless in his last four starts. Tillman pitched well out of the All-Star break on Friday in Oakland, but did not get a decision, despite giving up two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings of his team's 5-4 loss.

Tillman has beaten the Angels both times he's faced them and has pitched to a 1.84 ERA in those outings.

Los Angeles will oppose him with ace Jered Weaver, who hasn't dropped a decision since June 16 and is 10-6 on the year with a 3.43 ERA. The remarkable right-hander did not get a decision on Friday versus Seattle, as he surrendered two runs and six hits and struck out eight over six-plus innings in his team's 3-2 win.

Weaver tossed six scoreless innings in that one, before giving up two hits to start the seventh. Both runners scored against reliever Mike Morin.

"Scioscia wanted to take me out after that sixth inning -- I think I was riding a high wave and had a lot of confidence and wanted to go back out there for the seventh but obviously didn't prevail," Weaver said. "If I had to do it all over again, probably would've just let Morin come in and have a fresh inning there in the seventh."

Weaver is 6-4 lifetime versus the Orioles with a 3.06 ERA.

The Orioles won five of seven versus the Angels last season.






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