Orioles Offense Give Eflin Edge Over Los Angeles Angels

Gunnar Henderson set the tone early, and Zach Eflin delivered on the mound as the Orioles secured a 7-4 victory over the Angels on Mother's Day. Henderson's power, Eflin's steady return, and key contributions from Maverick Handley and Ryan Mountcastle helped the O's take the series in Anaheim.

Gunnar Henderson Sets the Tone Early

Orioles Shortstop Puts on Show In Anaheim

Gunnar Henderson is him.  The Orioles shortstop made that known on the second pitch of the game when he ripped a 0-1 cutter high in the zone for a double.  The sprinklers were out early for the Birds.

When catcher Adley Rutschman came up with two outs and hit a fly ball high and far into the outfield - it looked like he just missed.  The ball lost in the sunshine by Taylor Ward dropped for a triple.  The ball had an expected batting average of .020, but we’ll thank Mother Nature.

Besides giving the Orioles the first inning lead.  Gunnar also added later to help put the game out of reach.  He golfed a 1-0 changeup sky high for a two run home run, a moonshot, to right center field, his fifth homer of the year.

Explosive Sixth Inning Pushes Orioles Past Angels

Before Henderson's home run, the Orioles played small ball to tack on two more runs.

• Ramón Laureano led off the inning with a six-pitch walk.

• After a Jackson Holliday strikeout, Emmanuel Rivera drew another six-pitch walk.

• Laureano stole second and reached third on a wild play.

• He scored on a wild pitch by Connor Brogdon, and Cedric Mullins brought Rivera home with a 1-2 single.

The momentum didn't stop there. Maverick Handley executed a perfect squeeze bunt, sacrificing himself to bring the runner home, making it two outs with two runs across. Then, Henderson brought the boom stick to bring the whole team home.

Maverick Handley Gets First Career RBI

The 27-year-old rookie catcher Maverick Handley isn't known for his bat, but he made the most of his opportunities. Drafted by the Orioles in 2019, Handley has been recognized more for his defensive prowess.

He managed to pick up two RBIs in this game, both on sacrifice plays. The first came in the fifth inning when he flew out, allowing Emmanuel Rivera to score.

After the game, Handley caught up with Melanie Newman to share his thoughts:
Watch the postgame interview here.

Ryan Mountcastle Gets Fired Up

In the fifth inning something happened to Ryan Mountcastle he says has never happened before.  With a left handed pitcher on the mound the batter in front of him got intentionally walked.  How did Ryan Mountcastle respond?

RBI single laser.

We need Ryan Mountcastle to return to form, and hopefully we can look back at this game as the turning point.

Zach Eflin Solid After Shaky Start

Zach Eflin came into the year as the Orioles' ace, and he proved his worth after shaking off a rough first inning. He gave up two earned runs early but settled in to deliver four scoreless innings.

Eflin's final line:

• 5 IP

• 5 Hits

• 2 ERs

• 2 BB

• 5 Ks

• 83 Pitches

After a long layoff, it made sense for the Orioles' staff to be cautious, but the 83-pitch count shows he's ready for longer outings moving forward.

Series Win 2-1 Orioles

The Orioles demonstrated their ability to win in different ways—a big part of their Mother's Day victory over the Angels. Gunnar Henderson set the tone, Zach Eflin held it down, and role players like Maverick Handley and Ryan Mountcastle stepped up.

With young talent emerging and veterans finding their rhythm, Baltimore is proving they're ready to compete in 2025.