The Orioles defeated the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Thursday to start their AL East title defense. Anthony Santander and Cecil Mullins both homered in Corbin Burnes’ outstanding debut for Baltimore. Burnes also gave up one baserunner.
After Mike Trout’s first-inning home run off Burnes, the Angels were unable to muster any resistance against the new Baltimore ace. In his first start following the Orioles’ offseason acquisition of the right-hander from Milwaukee, Burnes (1-0) struck out 11 in six innings.
After starting the season with hits in the first and second innings and drawing a walk on opening day in Boston the previous year, Baltimore’s Ashley Rutschman drew a walk later in the game. Santander drove in four runs while he scored three himself.
For the Orioles, who returned a youthful core that won 101 games the previous season, Mullins added a three-run drive in the seventh after Santander hit a two-run home run in the fourth. When infielder Jackson Holliday rises from the minors, they expect to acquire another top prospect soon.
Along with starting a new chapter in its history, Baltimore was taken over on Wednesday by David Rubenstein from the Angelos family, who had owned the team since 1993.
The future isn’t quite as bright for the Angels now that two-way star Shohei Ohtani left during the offseason. If healthy, Trout still has the potential to be an MVP-caliber player, but Los Angeles wasn’t competitive in this game.Opening day starter Patrick Sandoval (0-1) only received five outs; Ohtani has filled this position the last two years. Sandoval gave up six hits and three earned runs.
In the first, Baltimore scored twice. Subsequently, Santander’s sacrifice fly allowed Rutschman to score twice in the second inning, bringing the score to 5-1.
Trainers:
Angels: Los Angeles placed INF Michael Stefanic (left quad strain) on a 10-day injured list, RHP Robert Stephenson (right shoulder inflammation) on a 15-day injured list, and RHP Sam Bachman (right shoulder inflammation) on a 60-day injured list. INF Miguel Sanó’s contract was chosen by the Angels.
Orioles: John Means (left forearm strain) and Kyle Bradish (right UCL sprain) began the season on the 15-day IL. Additionally, Baltimore designated OF Ryan McKenna and UT Tyler Nevin for assignment, promoted LHP Nick Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk, and placed RHP Jacob Webb on the paternity list.