Angels, Ace José Soriano Seeking Series Win In Rubber Match Against Orioles

The Los Angeles Angels got back on track with a 5-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the middle game of their three-game set to even the series ahead of the finale Wednesday.

The Angels rode a 2-0 lead in the first inning to victory, as rookie right-hander Ryan Johnson pitched the best game of his young career to earn his first win as a big-leaguer. First baseman Nolan Schanuel drilled a two-run home run to right center, which was all Johnson needed.

The 23-year-old tossed six outstanding innings and allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out eight to earn his first quality start. Los Angeles needed a great start after dropping the opener 6-1, and Johnson delivered.

The Halos went quiet until the fifth inning, when first baseman Vaughn Grissom tacked on two more runs with a single and designated hitter Jorge Soler knocked Grissom in with a sacrifice fly to put the Angels on top 5-0.

Orioles right-hander Shane Baz allowed all of the damage, surrendering five runs on eight hits and one walk while fanning five over five innings of work.

The Angels have played around .500 this month but must go on a run of series wins to start making up ground in a weak American League. Los Angeles can do that today with a win in the finale and it gets to turn to its ace.

José Soriano gets the ball for the Halos and will duel right-hander Trey Gibson, who has made just six Major League Baseball appearances in his career.

Soriano is 8-4 with a 3.03 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 98 strikeouts to 46 walks through 16 starts (92 innings). The 27-year-old has an absurd start to the season but has come back down to earth and has given up his fair share of runs over the last two months.

He last worked against the Athletics and coughed up four runs on six hits and four walks while punching out six over five innings of work in a no-decision. Soriano will take on the following Orioles lineup:

1. Taylor Ward (LF)

2. Gunnar Henderson (SS)

3. Leody Taveras (RF)

4. Pete Alonso (1B)

5. Samuel Basallo (C)

6. Colton Cowser (CF)

7. Coby Mayo (DH)

8. Jeremiah Jackson (2B)

9. Blaze Alexander (3B)

Gibson is 1-2 with a 5.81 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 20 strikeouts to 17 walks through six games (five starts, 26.1 innings). He was great against the Los Angeles Dodgers his last time out, throwing five innings of three-run ball on seven hits and four walks while punching out eight.

Besides a clunker against the San Diego Padres, Gibson has been solid, and he will take on the following Angels lineup:

1. Schanuel (1B)

2. Denzer Guzman (3B)

3. Wade Meckler (RF)

4. Soler (DH)

5. Christian Moore (LF)

6. Donovan Walton (2B)

7. Oswald Peraza (SS)

8. Josh Lowe (CF)

9. Tyler Heineman (C)

First pitch is at 1:07 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.