ALBERT PUJOLS hit a key double in the eighth that helped spark the Angels’ 6-2 win over the Orioles on Saturday night (Flickr/Eric Proust).

By Pete Zarustica

Ah, the Baltimore Orioles. They are just what the recently-slumping Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim needed. With Saturday’s 6-2 win over the O’s at Camden Yards, the Halos have won two straight and crept away from the embarrassment of falling under .500 after a 13-3 start in April.

Despite committing three errors, the Orange County team had just enough offense and pitching to improve to 43-41, still fourth in the American League West and 11.5 games out of first.

The Angels scored five runs in the eighth to break open a tight game, keyed by a double by Albert Pujols that placed him 10th on the all-time doubles list.  Pujols’ two-bagger tied the game at 2-all, and after an RBI fielder’s choice by Chris Young, David Fletcher’s two-run single sealed the game.

“We had some big hits there; I think the biggest hit in the inning was Albert,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “It was good clutch hitting in that inning. I think we had opportunities during the game that could have came back to haunt us, but we had a good eighth inning and got the lead.”

Tyler Skaggs had a strong start for the Angels, working five innings and giving up four hits and one earned run. He struck out six and walked one and lowered his ERA to 2.64.

The loss dropped the Orioles to 23-59, worst record in Major League Baseball. It was their seventh straight loss. The series will conclude on Sunday when the Angels start Deck McGuire (0-0) against Baltimore’s Kevin Gausman (3-6).