The Baltimore Orioles bounced back from a Friday night blowout to secure a crucial road series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers, rolling to a 12-1 victory Sunday at Dodger Stadium. The victory positions the Orioles favorably as they head to Anaheim for a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Right-hander Brandon Young picked up his team-leading sixth win of the season Sunday. Young pitched five steady innings, allowing just one run on five hits.
The Baltimore Orioles have now won 10 of the 12 games Young has started this year, providing vital stability to an injury-depleted starting rotation. The weekend series also highlighted the emergence of utility man Blaze Alexander, who has filled in capably at third base following a season-ending injury to Jordan Westburg.
Alexander, acquired in an early-season trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks, is batting over .400 since May 3.
"This is a player who, when the Orioles made the trade, it kind of came out of nowhere," Baltimore Sun reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer said on Vinny & Haynie. "Four months later, I don't think anybody's questioning whether that was a good trade or not. Frankly, it's looking like a steal."
Along with Young, left-hander Trevor Rogers provided a major boost to the rotation on Saturday, rebounding from a difficult first half of the season to throw seven dominant innings. Rogers saw his fastball velocity tick up into the mid-90s, helping keep a potent Dodgers lineup at bay. The Orioles' late-inning relief remains a point of focus.
Closer Ryan Helsley, recently activated from the injured list, struggled during Saturday's appearance but remains central to the team's bullpen hierarchy. A consistent return to form for Helsley is expected to solidify the roles of setup men Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge.
