Two days ago, Tony Mansolino drew the ire of some Orioles fans when he said that he was encouraged by aspects of his lineup’s performance against Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. The interim manager promised that better performances against left-handed pitchers were coming, mostly because he had faith in his right-handed hitters.

It didn’t happen the way Mansolino likely envisioned, but the Orioles’ breakout showing against a southpaw finally happened. Baltimore recorded a season-high six runs against a left-handed starter to secure a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Camden Yards on Saturday.

And while catcher Gary Sánchez homered in his return from the injured list, the Orioles’ left-handed hitters led the way. Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson and Cedric Mullins combined for four hits and three RBIs as Baltimore recorded a season-high four left-on-left hits against 2024 All-Star Tyler Anderson and improved to 4-14 against lefty starters (not including openers) this season.

Anderson actually has better numbers against right-handed batters than lefties this season. Mansolino said the coaching staff knew that entering the game, but the team’s not complaining.

“Even with reverse splits, he can always have a day. I think it was encouraging for us to go out there, stick to what we were trying to do, put some good swings on the ball,” Mullins said.

There’s been plenty of criticism levied at the Orioles for their showings against left-handed pitchers, and rightfully so. Even after Saturday’s performance, the team still ranks near the bottom of the MLB in every statistical category against them and the team’s core is built around left-handed hitters. But the Orioles’ lefties are actually faring better against southpaws this season than their right-handed teammates.

Baltimore’s batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage are all better in left-on-left situations than right-on-left. The numbers are below average on both sides, but the young batters’ recent showings against left-handed pitchers are a sign of growth.

“The kids are handling it pretty good. It seems like by the day, they’re getting better and better,” Mansolino said.

Henderson’s regression against left-handed pitchers has been one of the biggest reasons for the Orioles’ struggles. The star shortstop’s batting average has dropped 76 points, his OPS is .459 and he has just one extra-base hit in left-on-left situations. But after recording a hit against Skubal earlier in the week, Henderson delivered an RBI single in the third inning Saturday against Anderson through the left side of the infield.

Holliday, in just 53 at-bats, entered Saturday with a .226 batting average and a .601 OPS against left-handed pitchers. He smoked a 107.3 mph double off Anderson’s first pitch of the game and narrowly missed a home run in the sixth inning with a 395-foot flyout that would have been a homer in seven MLB stadiums.

“When you face Skubal, it kind of makes every lefty look easier,” Holliday said after the Orioles were held to just three hits in seven scoreless innings against the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner on Thursday. “The more I get comfortable [against left-handers], the more extra-base hits will come.”

And Mullins, who has struggled against left-handers the past three seasons, continued his career-year against them, raising his batting average to .300 in left-on-left matchups.

The Orioles (29-40) needed all of that offense Saturday as Tomoyuki Sugano was unable to make it out of the fourth inning. Mike Trout homered in the first inning after Sugano surrendered just his 13th walk of the season to lead off the game. The future Hall of Famer smashed his 29th career homer against the Orioles and 11th of the season off the foul pole in left to put the Angels ahead 2-0.

Sugano allowed three runs on six hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings, continuing a recent rough patch. The 35-year-old rookie left the bases loaded with two outs in the fifth, but relief pitcher Keegan Akin forced pinch-hitter Scott Kingery to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the threat. Sugano has a 4.41 ERA over his past four starts, allowing 27 hits during that span.

“He’s been a tick off. What that is, I’m not quite sure,” Mansolino said.

Akin, who had allowed one run in his previous 11 outings, surrendered a solo homer to Luis Rengifo in the sixth to put the Angels ahead 4-3, and the slumping third baseman added his second long ball of the game and third of the season in the eighth off Andrew Kittredge to cut the Orioles’ lead to just one run.

But closer Félix Bautista shut down the heart of Los Angeles order in the ninth, touching 100 mph in a game for the first time since returning from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery to get Trout to fly out to right field. He struck out Logan O’Hoppe on a 98 mph sinker to end a nine-pitch battle and secure his second save in as many games.

Baltimore now has a chance to complete its second home sweep of the season following three straight wins over the lowly Chicago White Sox to begin the month. A victory Sunday would also secure a winning homestand against Detroit, MLB’s top team, and a Los Angeles club that entered having won seven of its past nine games.

Around the horn

• Ryan O’Hearn was scratched from Saturday’s lineup because of left ankle discomfort after Angels shortstop Zach Neto clipped the first baseman’s ankle running through the base in the seventh inning Friday night. O’Hearn is the Orioles’ most likely All-Star, as he’s one of only four hitters in MLB with 10 or more home runs and a batting average over .300 this season.

• Outfielder Colton Cowser was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game with soreness after crashing into the center field wall in the Orioles’ 4-1 loss to the Tigers on Thursday. Cowser is still participating in baseball activities and Mansolino said that he was available off the bench if needed.

• Right-handed pitcher Tyler Wells, who underwent right elbow surgery in June 2024, threw a 25-pitch bullpen session at Camden Yards on Saturday. Wells threw mainly fastballs, mixing in some changeups. He said that he was unsure when he would face live hitters. Wells last pitched on April 12, 2024, against the Milwaukee Brewers.

• The Orioles shut outfielder Tyler O’Neill (left shoulder impingement) back down and returned him from his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Norfolk. He received an injection in his AC joint and won’t do any baseball activities for about a week. O’Neill has been on the injured list since mid-May.

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