Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night in Baltimore. The Angels lost, 2-0. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Angels second baseman Christian Moore sits in the dugout before making his major league debut in a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Camden Yards in Baltimore. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Charlie Morton throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Angels on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Angels star Mike Trout looks out into the crowd from the dugout during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Angels second baseman Christian Moore stays ready in the field during the first inning of his major league debut in a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Camden Yards in Baltimore. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Angels manager Ron Washington, left, speaks to home plate umpire Adam Hamari, right, after an exchange with a coach in the dugout during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
The Baltimore Orioles’ Ryan O’Hearn begins to run the bases after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning of a game against the Angels on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
The Angels’ Christian Moore strikes out during the second inning of his major league debut in a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Camden Yards in Baltimore. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo fields a ground ball to record an out in the bottom of the third inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, right, forces out the Angels’ Jo Adell at second base in the top of the fourth inning on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
The Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson singles in the top of the sixth inning of a game against the Angels on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Angels relief pitcher Brock Burke, right, meets with catcher Logan O’Hoppe on the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto turns a double play in the bottom of the sixth inning of a game against the Angels on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Angels manager Ron Washington signals to the bullpen as he makes his way to the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Angels manager Ron Washington retrieves the ball from relief pitcher Brock Burke in the bottom of the sixth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Bryan Baker reacts after striking out the Angels’ Jorge Soler, not pictured, in the top of the eighth inning on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Bryan Baker, right, high-fives catcher Maverick Handley as they walk off the field after the top of the eighth inning of a game against the Angels on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Félix Bautista throws to the plate in the ninth inning of a game against the Angels on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Félix Bautista, right, and catcher Maverick Handley embrace after a 2-0 victory over the Angels on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
The grounds crew rolls out the tarp on the field before a game between the Angels and the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
The grounds crew rolls out the tarp on the field before a game between the Angels and the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
The grounds crew rolls out the tarp on the field before a game between the Angels and the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
The scoreboard warns of inclement weather in the area as a tarp covers part of the field before a game between the Angels and the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
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Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night in Baltimore. The Angels lost, 2-0. (AP Photo/Alyssa Howell)
BALTIMORE — The first two hitters of the game reached base for the Angels on Friday night.
The next three struck out.
It was an ominous start to what would continue to be a frustrating, rainy night for the Angels, who wasted numerous opportunities on their way to a 2-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
The Angels struck out 15 times, including six with runners in scoring position. The Angels went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, and they hit into two double plays.
Top prospect Christian Moore, who came up twice with a runner in scoring position, went 0 for 3 with a strikeout in his major league debut.
“That was unreal,” Moore said. “Best day of my life. Everything you dream of. Everything you hear people talk about. The buzz. Everything. It’s that. The adrenaline. It’s the bright lights. It’s fun. I’m just grateful to be here and be able to put this uniform on and play with these guys.”
Even though the Angels (33-35) outhit the Orioles 8-6, they couldn’t overcome the two solo home runs that starter Jack Kochanowicz allowed.
Kochanowicz lasted only 4⅓ innings because his night was ended by a 69-minute rain delay in the fifth inning. There was also a 67-minute delay before the first pitch.
Of some consolation to the Angels, Kochanowicz was mostly sharp before the rain came.
Kochanowicz threw two bad pitches. He hung a slider to Ryan O’Hearn in the second and he misplaced a changeup to Ramon Laureano in the fifth, and both pitches wound up on the other side of the fence.
Besides those two solo homers, the only hit Kochanowicz allowed was an infield hit. He struck out two and didn’t walk anyone.
Kochanowicz, who brought a 5.61 ERA to the mound, said this was a step in the right direction.
“That’s back to myself,” he said. “Just a good one to build off. Obviously, the rain cut it short. That’s where I want to be. Just trying to stay right there.”
Kochanowicz recorded seven outs on six grounders. He needed just 53 pitches to get 13 outs.
“He was getting ground balls,” Manager Ron Washington said. “He was working fast. Got into the fifth inning with one out close to 50 pitches. He was about to get into the seventh inning. We just didn’t support him, because we just couldn’t put runs on the board. Tonight we had some chances early, but we just couldn’t get nothing going early to support him.”
Kochanowicz couldn’t match 41-year-old Orioles right-hander Charlie Morton.
After Zach Neto led off the game with a walk and Nolan Schanuel singled, Mike Trout, Jorge Soler and Logan O’Hoppe struck out. The Angels had two on and no outs in the fourth, too. A strikeout and two groundouts spoiled that chance.
The Angels struck out 10 times in five innings against Morton. Even after the second delay ended Morton’s night, the Angels could do nothing with the Baltimore bullpen.
The strikeout total increased the Angels’ major league leading total to 664. They have struck out in 27% of their plate appearances.
“All we have to do is put some runs on the board,” Washington said. “We’re gonna swing and miss. We’ve got those kind of guys. We’re gonna swing and miss. We don’t have (Luis) Arraez, those kind of guys. We’ve got guys that are gonna swing the bat. (Nolan) Schanuel doesn’t strike out that much, and he went down one time tonight. That’s who we are. Just got to bounce back tomorrow.”
Originally Published: June 13, 2025 at 8:53 PM PDT