Angels Blank Orioles in Extras, Avoid Series Sweep

Jul 31, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun (56) is congratulated by Josh Hamilton (32) after scoring the game-winning run on a one RBI single by Albert Pujols (not shown) in the thirteenth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Angels defeated the Orioles 1-0 in thirteen innings. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Angels’ bullpen is no longer a weakness.

Six Halo relievers combined to shut out Baltimore through 8 1/3 innings Thursday night en route to a hard-fought 1-0 victory. They yielded one run in the three-game series while striking out 17 Orioles.

Angels’ starter Tyler Skaggs struck out his first two batters in the fifth before immediately signaling to the dugout. The young right-hander exited with left forearm tightness, leaving a 4 2/3 inning no-hitter in what was turning into a stellar outing. His seven punch outs were the most since a May 31 start in Oakland.

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Mike Morin, Kevin Jepsen, Joe Smith, and Cory Rasmus took the reins from there, scattering three hits through the first 10 frames. A rejuvenated Hector Santiago followed with two consistent, albeit shaky, innings.

Santiago breezed through the 11^th before walking Chris Davis. With two out, Steve Pearce singled and Nick Hundley walked on five pitches to load the bases. Jonathan Schoop– Baltimore’s No. 9 hitter- ended the rally with a 3-2 strikeout, giving Santiago (3-7) a reprieve.

The Angels were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, leaving 11 men on base. The only bright spot was David Freese whose four-single night raised his batting average by .10 points.

Orioles starter Bud Norris continued his dominance over Los Angeles by blanking them through seven innings. The former Houston Astro carries a 0.43 ERA in 41 2/3 innings against the Halos.

A one-out, bases-loaded scenario in the third inning ended with an Albert Pujols double play ball. In the 13^th, Pujols redeemed himself.

Kole Calhoun led off with a four-pitch walk and hustled to third on Mike Trout’s single to left. Pujols drove a hard slider into center field, scoring Calhoun to garner a slim 1-0 lead. It was Pujols’ first RBI since last Wednesday and third multi-hit game against the O’s this year.

Huston Street-the team’s only major in-season acquisition- notched his 28^th save tossing a seamless 13^th inning. Facing the heart of Baltimore’s order, he forced Nick Markakis to ground out and struck out Manny Machado on a slider that tailed into the dirt. Street got Adam Jones to chase a similar pitch for a game-ending pop out.

The Angels snap a two-game losing streak and gain half a game on idle Oakland. Of their 13 games played after the All-Star break, all but one have been decided by less than three runs.

Three of Los Angeles’ seven shutout came in July.