BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 31: Pat Valaika #11 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after striking out looking against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 31, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The Baltimore Orioles faced Angels starting pitcher Alex Cobb on Saturday night. Cobb was in Baltimore for three seasons before being traded to the Angels in February for infielder Jahmai Jones and cash considerations. In defeating the Orioles 4-1, Cobb showed the Birds something they saw little of during his injury-filled time with the team.

Cobb allowed 1 run on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6 over 7.2 innings to improve his record to 6-3 over 12 games. For perspective Cobb’s three year record in Baltimore was 7-22 in 41 games (1 win/6 games).

Pat Valaika (1 for 3, 1 RBI) atoned for his dropped relay in the 2nd inning that allowed another former Oriole, Jose Iglesias, to score uncontested from first base by beating the throw to first on the back end of a would-be double play that allowed Domingo Leyba (0 for 2, 1 R, 1 BB) to score the Orioles lone run.

The remainder of the Orioles offense consisted of hits by Ramon Urias (2 for 3), Trey Mancini (1 for 4) and Ryan Mountcastle (1 for 4).

Orioles starter Jorge Lopez did his best Sampson imitation (his hair had been shaved) in the loss. The right-hander saw his record fall to 2-11 with his 4.2 inning losing effort. Lopez allowed 4 runs on 7 hits with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts.

Adam Plutko (2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 1 K) did a good job in relief as did former Angel, Isaac Mattson (1.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K). Mattson was one of the players the Orioles received in the 2019 trade of Dylan Bundy to the Angels.

Box Score

2021 Record: 27-56

Next Game: Sun. July 4 @ 4:07pm