Baltimore Orioles vs Los Angeles Angels: 3 takeaways from the Birds’ abysmal series loss

The Baltimore Orioles couldn’t catch a break against the Los Angeles Angels, suffering a brutal sweep and moving to nine consecutive road losses.

The Los Angeles Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night, leaving the Birds with an 8-23 record. It was a nightmare series for the O’s, as things went from bad to worse to downright dreadful.

Tuesday’s series opener was perhaps the most heartbreaking game: the Birds posted two runs in the ninth inning to tie the score, only to watch reliever Brad Brach surrender the winning run without recording a single out. On Wednesday, the Angels torched the O’s for 10 runs, yet Baltimore’s five-run rally in the ninth provided a small reason for optimism.

There was no such silver lining on Thursday. Chris Tillman gave up seven earned runs in less than two innings, the lineup failed to collect a hit until the sixth frame and the Orioles sank to the worst record in the American League. It has been a staggering free fall for a team that won 89 games in 2016, but it seems that losing is the new normal.

With the Angels series in the rearview mirror, the Birds are headed north to take on the Oakland Athletics. Until then, here are three takeaways from the Orioles’ frustrating performance in Anaheim.