Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. The Angels scored just one run in 6-2/3 innings against Bradish, who was an Angels minor leaguer when they traded him to the Orioles for Dylan Bundy. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
The Baltimore Orioles’ Anthony Santander hits a single during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Angels center fielder Mike Trout catches a ball hit by the Baltimore Orioles’ Cedric Mullins during the first inning on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson hits a triple during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Angels left fielder Taylor Ward attempts to catch a triple hit by the Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson during the second inning on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Mr. Splash, lower right, sprays fans with water after a triple hit by the Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
A Baltimore Orioles fan cheers after Gunnar Henderson hit a triple during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
The Baltimore Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle hits an RBI single during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson hits a single during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
The Angels’ Mike Trout runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish looks on after surrendering a solo home run to the Angels’ Mike Trout, left, during the fourth inning on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels star Mike Trout celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. The Angels scored just one run in 6-2/3 innings against Bradish, who was an Angels minor leaguer when they traded him to the Orioles for Dylan Bundy. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani flies out during the fourth inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
The Baltimore Orioles’ Austin Hays, right, is greeted by third base coach Tony Mansolino after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Fans seated in the Bird Bath Splash Zone are sprayed with water as they celebrate a home run hit by the Baltimore Orioles’ Austin Hays during the fifth inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani stands on deck as the pitch clock winds down during the sixth inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish is greeted by teammates after being removed from the game by Manager Brandon Hyde during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Danny Coulombe throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle shatters his bat and flies out during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Yennier Cano throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani grimaces after swinging at a pitch thrown by Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista during the ninth inning on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, left, and relief pitcher Felix Bautista celebrate after their victory over the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
From left, the Baltimore Orioles’ Adam Frazier, Joey Ortiz, Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins celebrate after their victory over the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Young fans attempt to catch a ball thrown into the stands by Baltimore Orioles left fielder Austin Hays during their game against the Angels on Wednesday night in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels infielder Luis Rengifo warms up before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels star Mike Trout stretches during batting practice before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels infielder Gio Urshela throws a weighted ball during batting practice before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon looks on during batting practice before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels infielder Gio Urshela warms up before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels star Mike Trout looks on during batting practice before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels manager Phil Nevin looks on during batting practice before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels infielder Luis Rengifo warms up before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Angels infielder Gio Urshela looks on during batting practice before their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
BALTIMORE — Back in December 2019, the Angels sent four minor league pitchers to the Baltimore Orioles for Dylan Bundy.
They saw one of them on Wednesday night.
Kyle Bradish, who had only moderate success in his brief time in the major leagues, flummoxed the Angels during their 3-1 loss to the Orioles.
“He’s got really good stuff,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “He didn’t throw anything in the middle of the plate. We didn’t hit a lot of balls hard but he didn’t give us many chances to either. Our guys did a good job grinding out at-bats but he was really good tonight.”
Slumping Mike Trout hit a homer in the fourth inning, and that was all the Angels managed in 6-2/3 innings against Bradish. They had three other hits – all singles – and didn’t have an at-bat with a runner in scoring position.
Bradish, 26, cut his ERA from 4.56 to 3.90. At the time the Angels traded the former fourth-round pick, he was not considered a top prospect, and he’d posted a 4.28 ERA in his only season in the Angels’ farm system.
A year before the Angels picked Bradish, they picked Griffin Canning. His career was derailed by a season and a half lost to a back injury, and he’s still trying to find his way back.
Sharing the mound with Bradish on Wednesday, Canning gave up three runs in 5-1/3 innings. He has a 6.14 ERA in six starts. Each game has included flashes of what the Angels hope he can be. On Wednesday, he averaged 96.0 mph on his fastball in a scoreless first inning, throwing 10 of his 11 pitches for strikes.
“I think I just felt good with my stuff today and feel like I was on the attack the whole game,” Canning said. “I continue to feel like I’m getting better, I’m just not getting the results.”
Asked what he needs to do to get better results, Canning deadpanned: “I need them to hit them at our guys.”
The Angels’ “guys” didn’t even handle the balls that were hit at them in this game, though.
In the first inning, a blooper dropped in right field when there seemed to be a miscommunication between right fielder Hunter Renfroe and second baseman Brandon Drury.
In the second, left fielder Taylor Ward dove for a ball and it got past him for a triple. It would have been a tough catch, but Ward could have at least held speedy Gunnar Henderson at first if he’d simply played it on a hop. Third baseman Gio Urshela then misplayed a bunt.
Canning got out of that jam with a double play and a strikeout.
He couldn’t escape after that, though, allowing single runs in the third, fourth and fifth. A leadoff walk and then back-to-back two-out hits cost him in the third. In the fifth, he got ahead of Austin Hays 1-and-2 but he couldn’t put him away. Bradish hit a 369-foot fly ball that dropped just over the fence in right field.
The fourth-inning run scored after the Angels failed to turn a double play because shortstop Zach Neto’s throw pulled first baseman Matt Thaiss off the bag.
“I thought he was good,” Nevin said of Canning. “Really, if you look at it, it very easily could have been six innings and only two runs.”
