Orioles shut down the Angels, 3-0

KEY MOMENT: Manny Machado singled to center field with two outs in the eighth inning. Angels Manager Mike Scioscia pulled starter Garrett Richards in favor of Mike Morin, who gave up an infield single to Jimmy Paredes and a two-run double to Adam Jones, whose drive to the gap in left-center field drove in two runs for a 3-0 Orioles lead. That ended at 18 a string of scoreless innings by Angels relievers.

AT THE PLATE: The Angels threatened with two outs in the ninth inning when Albert Pujols and Erick Aybar singled against closer Zach Britton, but the left-hander struck out Johnny Giavotella with a 96-mph fastball to end the game. Giavotella, one of the team’s top hitters in the clutch, also grounded into a double play to end the seventh and struck out with runners on first and third to end the fourth.

ON THE MOUND: The offensive struggles have put a heavy burden on Angels pitchers, but Richards, who fell to 3-2 with a 2.29 earned-run average, said he didn’t feel pressure to be perfect. “As a starting pitcher, you can’t really worry about that stuff,” he said. “You have to put up a zero every time you take the mound. The offense will take care of itself.” Richards, who ruptured a tendon in his left knee covering first base in August, fielded Travis Snider’s dribbler between the mound and first base and ran to the bag himself in the eighth. “There were no issues, whatsoever,” Richards said. “It felt good to take one on your own and execute the play. That’s something I’m getting more comfortable with. I don’t think about anything when I break off the mound.”

TURF WARS: Scioscia will rotate players through the designated hitter spot this week, and possibly give some regulars a day off, to get them off the artificial turf in Toronto, where the Angels begin a four-game series Monday. “When you play on that surface all the time, your body adapts to it,” Scioscia said, “but when you pop in there for three or four days, there’s no doubt there’s a toll it takes that you want to make sure you get over.”

REHAB REPORT: Reliever Cory Rasmus, who had hernia surgery in spring training, has extended his long-toss program to 120 feet and could progress to a mound this week. The right-hander, who was 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 30 games last season, will need a lengthy minor league rehabiliation stint before returning.

ON THE FARM: Top pitching prospect Sean Newcomb looked sharp Saturday in his debut for Class-A Inland Empire, giving up one run and four hits, striking out seven and walking one in five innings against Lancaster. Newcomb, a left-hander who was a first-round pick in 2014, was promoted last week from Class-A Burlington.

UP NEXT: Left-hander C.J. Wilson (2-2, 2.63 ERA) will oppose Toronto right-hander Aaron Sanchez (3-3, 4.26) on Monday at 10 a.m. PDT at Rogers Centre. TV: FS West; Radio: 830.

— Mike DiGiovanna