Orioles End Skid with 4-1 Victory Over Angels in Series Opener

Tomoyuki Sugano Continues Stellar Start to 2025 Season

Sugano’s Consistency Shines Through

Tomoyuki Sugano came into the season as a bit of a mystery for the Baltimore Orioles. The 35-year-old rookie from Japan had piled up success in Nippon Professional Baseball, but many questioned if his mastery would translate to the Major Leagues.

So far, he's proved every doubter wrong. Sugano has been just short of exceptional, and with each start, he seems to get stronger.

Sugano has pitched 7+ innings in three of his last five starts, and at least five innings in each of those outings. For an Orioles rotation that has been plagued with inconsistency and injuries, Sugano's reliability has been a breath of fresh air.

His dominant performance against the Yankees was a clear indication that he’s not just another arm in the rotation - he's a workhorse that Baltimore can count on to eat innings and compete against elite lineups.

As the season progresses, expect the Orioles to keep leaning on their veteran rookie to deliver in big spots. Sugano's mastery of his six-pitch arsenal and veteran poise have made him a key component in Baltimore's rotation as they look to climb back up the standings.

Limiting Walks and Pitch Counts

One of the most impressive aspects of Tomoyuki Sugano's transition to Major League Baseball has been his pinpoint control. In a league where walks can quickly turn into multi-run innings, Sugano has managed to keep the free passes to a minimum. Through his first eight starts of the season, he has not allowed more than two walks in any outing.

For comparison, the league average for walks per nine innings (BB/9) sits around 3.39; Sugano is comfortably below that mark, sitting at 1.7 BB/9. His ability to command all six of his pitches keeps hitters guessing and prevents them from sitting on a specific count.

This level of control has also contributed to keeping his pitch counts in check. Despite regularly working deep into games, Sugano rarely exceeds 100 pitches, allowing him to extend his outings and save the bullpen for tighter situations. Against the Angels, he threw just 93 pitches over 7 1/3 innings, efficiently attacking the zone and avoiding prolonged at-bats.

For a rotation that has struggled with consistency and depth, Sugano's ability to work deep into games with minimal damage has been a stabilizing force. His efficiency not only preserves the bullpen but also provides the Orioles with a chance to win nearly every time he takes the mound.

Mastering the Art of Pitch Sequencing

What makes Tomoyuki Sugano so difficult to hit isn’t just his command—it’s the sheer unpredictability of his arsenal. The 35-year-old veteran came over from Japan with a well-established reputation for mixing his pitches masterfully, and so far in 2025, he's done exactly that.

Sugano’s repertoire includes a six-pitch mix:

• Four-seam fastball
  

• Cutter
  

• Sinker
  

• Curveball
  

• Changeup
  

• Sweeper
  

This depth allows him to attack hitters from multiple angles and speeds, keeping them off-balance throughout his outings. He’s not afraid to double up on off-speed pitches or start an at-bat with a breaking ball—approaches that are unconventional by MLB standards but have proven highly effective.

Against the Angels, Sugano threw 93 pitches over 7 1/3 innings, with 65 of those going for strikes. He used his cutter and sinker to induce weak contact, while his curveball and sweeper served as out-pitches when he needed to put batters away.

Sugano’s sequencing was on full display in the fifth inning against Jo Adell. After spotting two fastballs for strikes, he dropped a curveball at 75 mph that Adell swung right over. Next up, he went back to the cutter, running it in on the hands for a weak groundout to Emmanuel Rivera at third.

The ability to locate his pitches in any count has been a crucial factor in his success. Hitters can’t simply sit on the fastball, knowing that Sugano is just as likely to throw a 2-1 changeup or a 0-2 sweeper.

For the Orioles, Sugano’s ability to mix his pitches effectively has been a key to his success. His presence on the mound has brought a veteran savvy that Baltimore desperately needed to stabilize its rotation.

Sugano’s Stellar Outing Against the Angels

Facing off against the Los Angeles Angels in the first game of a three-game series, Tomoyuki Sugano was nothing short of dominant. The Orioles right-hander went 7 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five. His control was impeccable—zero walks and 65 of his 93 pitches thrown for strikes.

Sugano set the tone early, retiring the side in order in the first inning with just 10 pitches. After Gunnar Henderson's first-inning home run gave him a rare bit of early run support, Sugano wasted no time going to work. His mix of fastballs, cutters, and changeups kept the Angels' lineup guessing and off-balance.

The fifth inning proved to be his biggest test. With two outs, Luis Rengifo doubled to deep center field, putting the Angels in scoring position for the first time. Sugano responded with precision, getting Jo Adell to roll over on a cutter for an inning-ending groundout.

Sugano continued to cruise until the seventh inning, when Yoán Moncada lined a triple down the right-field line and eventually scored on a Taylor Ward groundout. Even then, Sugano showed no signs of panic, inducing another groundball out before turning things over to the bullpen.

His ability to keep his pitch count low and limit hard contact allowed him to work deeper into the game, something Baltimore's rotation has struggled to do all season. With 7+ innings for the third time in five starts, Sugano's outing set the stage for Yennier Cano, Keegan Akin, and Félix Bautista to close it out.

Orioles Find Early Runs, Snap First-Inning Drought Against Angels

Gunnar Henderson Ends First-Inning Drought with a Solo Home Run

The Orioles had gone 16 consecutive games without a first-inning run—a streak that ended emphatically on Friday night in Anaheim. On a 1-0 count against Kyle Hendricks, Gunnar Henderson turned on a changeup and sent it 400 feet to right field. The no-doubt blast was Henderson's fourth home run of the season, and it instantly shifted momentum in Baltimore's favor.

“Yeah, just had good mindsets, good at-bats going into it. I felt like we strung together a lot of good at-bats today and a lot of potential for more runs.”  Gunnar Henderson

The Orioles' struggles to get on the board early had been a storyline all season, but Henderson’s swing put that narrative to rest - at least for one night. It also gave Tomoyuki Sugano a rare luxury: pitching with an early lead.

Holliday and Rivera Spark Second-Inning Rally

The Orioles' offense wasn’t finished after Henderson’s blast. In the second inning, Ryan O’Hearn and Tyler O’Neill worked back-to-back walks to open the frame, setting the stage for Jackson Holliday. The rookie shortstop ambushed the first pitch he saw, ripping a single to right field to score O’Hearn and move O’Neill to third.

Emmanuel Rivera kept the line moving with a sharp grounder through the left side, pushing the Orioles' lead to 3-0. For a team that has struggled with situational hitting, the second inning felt like a breakthrough—a sign that they could capitalize on base runners instead of leaving them stranded.

Baltimore wasn’t able to tack on more in that frame, but the early three-run cushion was all Sugano needed to work confidently for the rest of his outing.

Mountcastle and Rivera Flash the Leather in Key Defensive Moments

It wasn’t just the bats that showed up for Baltimore—the gloves did too. Ryan Mountcastle was a wall at first base, scooping out low throws and making a diving stop in the fourth inning that robbed Jo Adell of a leadoff single.

On the other side of the diamond, Emmanuel Rivera showcased why the Orioles have been so high on his defensive prowess. His smooth backhand play in the fifth inning on a Luis Rengifo grounder shut down an Angels rally before it could start.

Cano, Akin, and Bautista Shut the Door Late

After Tomoyuki Sugano handed the ball over with one out in the eighth, the Orioles' bullpen took care of the rest. Yennier Cano was first in line, but his outing didn’t come without drama. He allowed a single to Jo Adell and walked Jorge Soler, setting up a tense, 13-pitch showdown with Zach Neto. Cano fired sinker after sinker, with Neto fouling off seven consecutive pitches before finally swinging through a 95-mph heater to end the threat.

Keegan Akin entered next and promptly retired Nolan Shanuel after falling behind 3-0, defusing the Angels' hopes of a late comeback. With a 4-1 lead intact, Félix Bautista came on for the ninth. The Orioles’ towering closer, affectionately known as The Mountain, needed just 11 pitches to secure a perfect inning, capping off the victory with a strikeout to seal his seventh save of the season.