The Baltimore Orioles ushered in new ownership and a new era in a resounding way on Thursday. They crushed the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on their revamped Opening Day, sending Mike Trout and the visiting Angels home with a sour taste to start their season. The game was also a symbolic change of guard in Baltimore.

It marked the first full day of ownership for hometown billionaire David Rubenstein. Rubenstein, whose group formally took over from the Angelos family, pledged a “new day” for the franchise, and the Orioles did their best to deliver it on the field. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Angels, though.

Mike Trout’s solo shot, the Angels struggle

Trout did what Trout does: he hit a home run. His first-inning solo blast was a reminder of his perennial three-time MVP potential, but that flash of brilliance was all the Halos’ offense could muster against Corbin Burnes. 

The Angels’ woes were compounded when other key figures in their lineup failed to produce. They lost on Opening Day for their third consecutive season, and Trout was the only starter to record a base hit. While the calendar has not yet flipped to April, it already appears as if the 2024 campaign will be a long one for Trout and the Halos.

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The rest of the lineup flailed, leaving Mike Trout as the only Angel to reach base. It’s a worrying sign for a team that’s already feeling the loss of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who left for greener pastures during the offseason. If Ohtani’s absence wasn’t painful enough, the Halos’ dismal offensive outing on Opening Day only serves to underscore the massive hole he’s left in the lineup.

“It’s kind of one of those days where everything lines up, that you kind of got everything working. It becomes a really fun day,” Burnes said of his performance to The LA Times. “You can kind of do some things that you don’t normally do when you don’t have everything working.” And some “things” they definitely did!

Orioles’ powerhouse performance

The Birds’ bats ignited early, chasing Angels starter Patrick Sandoval after just five outs. Star catcher Adley Rutschman, last season’s breakout rookie, fueled the fire with a two-run single, and the offensive onslaught continued from there. Anthony Santander cracked a 431-foot bomb in the fourth, and Cedric Mullins piled on a three-run blast in the seventh. 

Not to be outdone, the new ownership group made a surprise appearance at Pickles Pub near Camden Yards, with co-founder Mike Arougheti buying a round of beers for ecstatic fans. It was a gesture that echoed their promise of fresh enthusiasm for the franchise.

Meanwhile, the O’s new staff ace, Burnes, was dazzling on the mound. The reigning Cy Young Award winner, acquired via trade from the Brewers, struck out 11 Angels hitters and surrendered a lone hit in six lights-out innings. One bad pitch, indeed.

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“One bad pitch through six innings. Just awesome, awesome performance,” gushed manager Brandon Hyde. “That’s not easy to do. New team, opening day, a lot of jitters, probably pretty anxious, and go out and do what he just did is really impressive.”

Opening Day is about hope and excitement, but the Orioles seemed determined to suck the air out of the Angels’ balloon. Baltimore’s new ownership group, along with their young and hungry squad, could set the tone for a thrilling ride for the Orioles in 2024. Meanwhile, Angels fans may be facing a long season ahead, especially with an offense helmed by Mike Trout—one that couldn’t get past one of baseball’s hottest pitchers.