Fourth-Place Orioles Win Respect

The Baltimore Orioles remained firmly rooted in fourth place in the American League East after capping a four-game sweep of the Angels on Sunday with a 7-6 victory. But the Angels departed Camden Yards with a heightened sense of respect for a club that won eight of the nine meetings between the teams.

“That’s the best team I’ve ever seen,” said Angel closer Troy Percival, not intending a sliver of sarcasm. “I don’t care what their record is, that’s a team that’s just starting to hit its stride. You can see a bright horizon for them.”

Oriole starting pitchers recorded a quality start (six innings or more, three earned runs or fewer) in each game during the most recent series, and the bullpen notched four saves. The Orioles scored 23 runs over the four games and hit two grand slams, giving them four of their five grand slams this season against the Angels.

Baltimore right fielder Jay Gibbons also turned in a defensive gem Sunday, preventing the Angels from tying the score in the second inning with a diving catch of a sinking liner off the bat of Jose Molina that stranded Adam Kennedy at second base.

“They just flat-out beat us in every aspect of the game,” Angel center fielder Darin Erstad said.

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Angel starter John Lackey left Baltimore’s Melvin Mora a get-well message after accidentally hitting the All-Star left fielder in the cheek with a fastball in the third inning. Lackey said he called the trainer’s room in the Orioles’ clubhouse and left a message that he hoped Mora was OK and would return soon.

Mora had to leave the game after Lackey’s pitch bruised the Oriole player’s cheek and cut the inside of his mouth.

“It just got away,” Lackey said of the pitch. “I was trying to come inside. You never want to throw up around a guy’s head.”

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Angel Manager Mike Scioscia gave Garret Anderson a half-day off by allowing the left fielder to start at designated hitter, but the move backfired in the first inning when the Orioles scored a run on fill-in Jeff DaVanon’s error. Brian Roberts led off with a walk and scored on Luis Matos’ hit-and-run single to left after DaVanon failed to field the ball cleanly.

DaVanon also cost himself a chance to catch Deivi Cruz’s line drive in the sixth by momentarily hesitating on the play. Cruz later scored on Matos’ single through the hole between third base and shortstop.

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Angel pitchers have allowed 21 earned runs in the last 24 innings for a 7.88 earned-run average after having given up only seven earned runs in their previous 44 innings for a 1.43 ERA.... Anderson extended his season-high hitting streak to 12 games with a fourth-inning double. Scott Spiezio had two hits and four runs batted in, extending his season-high hitting streak to 11 games ....The Orioles’ 8-1 record in the season series was the best in franchise history against the Angels.

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays, two games.

Site -- Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Radio -- KSPN (710), KWKU (1220).

Records -- Angels 49-47, Devil Rays 34-62.

Record vs. Devil Rays -- 5-2.

Tonight, 4:15 PDT -- Aaron Sele (6-6, 5.37) vs. Rob Bell (1-2, 7.36).

Tuesday, 9:15 a.m. PDT -- Ramon Ortiz (11-7, 4.34) vs. Joe Kennedy (3-6, 6.08).