Orioles overcome rain, Angels in 4-3 victory

BALTIMORE-The rain became a big part of the story Monday night. In the end, the Orioles played a little bit better in it than the Angels.

Adam Jones homered and drove in three runs and Nate McLouth scored the go-ahead run on an error as the Baltimore Orioles earned a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Camden Yards.

The rain started in the first part of the game and picked up around the fifth. After Los Angeles tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth on a Josh Hamilton homer, McLouth and Jones helped the Orioles score twice in a driving rain in the bottom half. They never trailed again.

"We had to get them out, and they had to get us out," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It got worse as it went on. The field can just take so much."

McLouth led off with a bunt single that Angels starter Jered Weaver (1-2) couldn't quite reach. McLouth then stole second, his 19th consecutive stolen base, the longest active streak in the majors.

Manny Machado singled to right, and the ball skipped past Hamilton. McLouth scored on the error, and Machado moved to second. Machado later scored on a Jones sacrifice fly for a 4-2 Baltimore lead.

Showalter complimented McLouth for stealing in those conditions, but the left fielder said he wanted to give it a shot.

"When I got on there, it was wet, but I wanted to try to get in scoring position as quick as I could," McLouth said. "It's tough to receive a ball and throw in those conditions, too. So I took that chance, and it ended up working out."

The umpires called for the tarp moments later as rain intensified. There was then a two-hour, 14-minute delay before play resumed.

Baltimore hasn't fared well against Weaver recently as the right-hander went 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA in his last four starts against the Orioles. They also weren't sure what the situation would be regarding the weather, which added to the pressure in the sixth.

"There's always a sense of urgency when you get Weaver on the mound," Jones said. "We just kept fighting him. For us to fight and get two runs off Weaver in that situation was very important, especially with what happened with the rain."

Home-plate umpire and crew chief Joe West said they kept going until the field became unplayable.

"As soon as we stopped it, the bottom fell out [and it started pouring]," West told a pool reporter. "And we made every effort to fix it along the way. We fixed the batter's box, put dry stuff on the mound, but when players start sliding, you can't take a chance with them getting injured."

The delay ended the night for both starters. For Baltimore, Freddy Garcia (3-3) bounced back from a poor effort in his last start, in which he surrendered four homers in three-plus innings during a loss in Houston. The right-hander pitched six strong innings against the Angels, allowing two runs on six hits.

Weaver (1-2) allowed four runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings as the Angels lost their third straight.

Tommy Hunter took over in the seventh for the Orioles and ran into trouble. He walked two, and the Angels loaded the bases with one out. Hamilton's fielder's choice grounder scored a run and left the bases loaded, but Hunter struck out Albert Pujols, and Mark Trumbo grounded out to as Baltimore escaped with a 4-3 lead.

"Our guys did a good job, [and] I thought we had some good at-bats after the rain delay," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We just couldn't get enough to get that one big hit."

Darren O'Day pitched a scoreless eighth for the Orioles, and Jim Johnson closed it for his 22nd save. The two relievers needed nine pitches apiece to retire the Angels.

Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead when Mike Trout hit a one-out homer in the third. Trout hit a Garcia sinker just over the right field scoreboard.

Nick Markakis drew a one-out walk in the fourth, and Jones followed with a two-run homer to left that gave Baltimore a 2-1 lead. Jones turned quickly on an 0-1 changeup from Weaver and lined a shot into the left field seats. Jones has homered in two straight games, also getting one in Sunday's win at Tampa Bay.

NOTES: Orioles 2B Alexi Casilla was unable to start due to an injured right index finger that he hurt while sliding in Sunday's victory. He didn't play in the game. ... Monday's game was the Orioles' 15th against a team from the American League West -- and the first one they played at home. Baltimore has a 10-5 record against AL West foes. ... Trout is tied for second in the AL with 45 runs. ... Angels OF Peter Bourjos was activated from the disabled list and played for the first time since injuring his left hamstring on April 29. He went 2-for-4. Bourjos went back to center field, and Trout moved over to left. Chris Nelson was designated for assignment to open up a roster spot.