NEW YORK—Keegan Akin had a fun evening last Saturday, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the New York Yankees. Akin watched as his teammates scored a 6-1 win over Gerrit Cole.
His rematch against the Yankees didn’t go very well at all. Throwing 39 pitches in the first inning, Akin was pulled after seven batters in the Orioles’ 10-1 loss to New York on Friday night in the second game of a seven-inning doubleheader.
In the opener, the Orioles lost 6-0 as Cole allowed just two hits and struck out nine in the seven-inning game.
The Orioles, who had won four straight to move into contention for wild-card spot, have dropped three straight and are 20-24, trailing the Yankees by 3 ½ games.
“It was a great opportunity,” rightfielder DJ Stewart said. “We just didn’t come out and execute today.”
Doubleheaders haven’t been friendly to the Orioles. They’ve lost two and split one with New York on September 4th. They have one more scheduled on September 17th with Tampa Bay, part of a five-game series.
Stewart got the Orioles off quickly in Game 2, launching his sixth home run in the past six games in the first inning against Masahiro Tanaka.
That was all they’d get against Tanaka, who allowed a run on three hits in five innings.
Akin walked DJ LeMahieu, and gave up a single to Luke Voit. Both runners moved up on Aaron Hicks’ fly ball.
Clint Frazier grounded to José Iglesias at short. LeMahieu was running on contact and was safe as Iglesias’ throw home to catcher Chance Sisco bounced in the dirt.
Gleyber Torres’ single scored Voit, and Torres moved to second when centerfielder Cedric Mullins threw home. Frazier and Torres scored on Miguel Andújar’s double, and New York led, 4-1.
“It wasn’t our best inning defensively,” manager Brandon Hyde said.
Akin was removed after he struck out Gary Sanchez.
“Keegan’s pitch count was up there, and I just couldn’t let him go past 40 pitches in an inning,” Hyde said. “A young guy that we care about. Unfortunately, his outing was cut extremely short. That puts us in a bad spot in the second game of a doubleheader.
“They were on his fastball, and a lot of foul balls. I think there were some balls in the middle of the plate that he located a little bit better, but this was a pitch-count issue.”
Akin’s ERA more than doubled in his third start from 2.08 to 4.61.
“They made some adjustments from the last time I faced them,” Akin said. “They came out swinging today, both games really. They turned it around a little bit, and you just move on to the next one.
“I didn’t mix my pitches that well at the start. I got in trouble with my fastball and trusted that. Obviously, they adjusted to that, and I was going to come with my fastball and my changeup, and they made some adjustments there.”
Travis Lakins pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Asher Wojciechowski gave up a three-run home run to Voit in the fourth to give the Yankees a 7-1 lead. Voit hit another three-run blast against Wojciechowski in the fifth, his 16th, and the Orioles trailed, 10-1.
Carson Fulmer became the 44th player used by the Orioles this season. He relieved Wojciechowski and retired all four batters he faced in his first outing since August 16th when he was with Detroit. The Orioles claimed him on waivers from Pittsburgh on September 5th.
“I was really impressed,” Hyde said. “He’s got a really live fastball, and the changeup is excellent. I thought he did a really nice job.”
Chris Davis, who was activated this week after a stint on the 10-day injured list because of left knee patella tendinitis, was hitless in three at-bats, his first action since August 19th. Davis is hitless in his last 15 at-bats dating to August 12th.
Rio Ruiz singled to start the second, and Tanaka hit Renato Núñez in the hand with a pitch. Then Tanaka retired his final 12 batters.
Bryan Holaday pinch-hit for Núñez in the seventh and thought he had a walk when he was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Pat Hoberg. Holaday was ejected for arguing with Hoberg.
Hyde said that Núñez’s hand should be fine, but he was sent for X-rays.
The Orioles allowed at least 10 runs for the third time this season, the first since August 14th.
Odds and ends: The Orioles designated outfielder Mason Williams for assignment. They needed to make a roster to move to make room for Cobb, who was the 29th man for the doubleheader. Williams was 2-for-18 (.111) in 11 games … Dean Kremer will pitch against Jordan Montgomery on Saturday at 1:05 p.m.
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I guess the less said about the doubleheader the better. Outpitched,outhit,and outfielded. Really hope Kremer follows his first start with a good to decent one today. Really means a lot in our hope to find that "ace/gem/stud". Is Alberto really that one dimensional that he has to bat 7th every night? Yankee announcers baffled as to why Davis is in the lineup steeling AB's from the younger players. Duh...spot on guys. Time for the guys to start using that opposite field hitting approach once again. Again--Kremer has to have a good showing today for our psyche'.
I think CD being on the field brought bad mojo with him, watch the body language, on the field, in the dugout, he doesn’t belong, EVERYONE feels awkward, just release him...go O’s...
I finally get to see the O’s on TV as MLB carried the DH. It was so bad I watched the US open instead. Cobb and Ubo, DD wasted millions and hurt the team with two of the worst free agent pitcher signings in MLB history. The announcers on MLB said why is Davis on the team he can’t play anymore he’s taking away bats on a team that’s contending. My man Williams is gone for good. He had a 286 lifetime average going into this season but he didn’t perform in his 18 at bats although half of them were after he was DFA and came back after sitting on his butt for a week. I wish him well.
Mason Williams isn’t going anywhere. He will clear waivers and wind up back in Bowie awaiting the next injury to an OF
Your wrong Hays will be here in a few days.and mighty Velazquez is backup OF. When I saw Mullins throw last night I again realized how weak his arm his. He has performed ok but Hays and Diaz are the future with Mountcastle and now DJ in our outfield.
But Williams isn’t gone forever. He will go unclaimed like before and be at Bowie
I can't believe I watched the whole thing.
So disappointed with the lifeless effort in both games yesterday. I guess the results are understandable ... G. Cole pitching to be followed by Mr. Tanaka. Both seemed at or near the top of their games while a fast fading Alex Cobb and a marginal rookie were our answers to these two.
And Chris Davis. What a pathetic picture he's painting of a one time slugger. You can see the embarrassment on his face. At this point, I actually feel bad for the guy. Do the right thing Mr. Elias. There comes a time when you have to put the beloved family dog down, and it's well past time. Pretend that Baltimore is still a major league market. Eat that contract. I bet the Nashville Stars would.
If he is so embarrassed why does he keep on coming back for more and another two years on top of it. Obviously with the money he can take his embarrassment all the way to the bank.
You answered your own question.
I'm almost sure at this point, (well yeah...it's pure speculation) that Davis would LOVE for the Orioles to tell him to go home. He probably would just quit if it weren't for the money, which more likely than not, he doesn't really need any more of at this point. BUT ... he has a family to feed ....errrr... answer to ... AND ... I'm sure his union brothers wouldn't take kindly to him walking away from that kind of cash. Being it would set a bad precedent an all.
Other than the $$, his is not a very enviable position.
Seems that we are witnessing the bitter end of Chris's time here in Baltimore.
John and Lou are the only two who will make this call. With five of the seven years gone they will cut ties with him this Winter.
With the young talent already on this team who would have their playing time negatively impacted by having him still around they will have to make this final move.
Sure hope you're right, though it wouldn't surprise me to see him back come spring.
Bounce back today Birds ! Come out with some
I love this site, I really do. Rich delivers the updates that are spot on and there are a lot of loyal and knowledgeable participants that are “long” timers like myself. Like me, we all are hoping that we are starting to see he light at the end of the tunnel.
That being said, I am really concerned about the team defense. Their fundamentals are very weak and their defensive “IQ” is abysmal. What are they teaching these guys on the way up the ladder?
Years ago I loved getting to Oriole games early and watching,, not only batting practice, but fielding practice as well where they worked on communication, positioning and cutoffs etc. I don’t think this is part of the pre-game ritual anymore, is it Rich?
The great O’s teams that got to the WS/playoffs in the 60-80’s all were spectacular defensively. I doubt if there is anyone on the team today that could wear their jock strap on the field of play. Name one, please.
Agree 100% & will go one step further, it’s not just their defensive IQ, it’s baseball IQ overall, putting CD on the field does not help, his facial expressions on the field & in the dugout say it all, he’d be just fine if they released him & the team would be better...go O’s...
Nellie, very few teams take infield before games.
Severino couldn't block a errant pitch if his life depended on it. To wit.....today's game in the ⬇10th with Harvey on the mound
His defense has really gone south
Rutschman in 2021...go O’s...
Kremer looks like a top of the rotation starter. Bad move by Hyde not having Mullins bunt with third baseman almost half way down the line and Velazquez running. You know I’m not a big fan of Mullins and has looked terrible in this series but he’s not the only one.
I agree ... so far Kremer looks pretty danged good.
You know I AM a big fan of Mullins lol! I'm confused, why would you want him to bunt when both corners are standing only about 40 feet from home? Bunting under those conditions would be problematic don't you think? It was simply bad luck that Mullins lined a hard drive to a 2nd baseman that was ..I believe .. standing on the grass when he caught that ball.
As far as Diaz goes, I don't see the point in bringing him up this late. Contrary to every thing I've ever said regarding delaying service time, maybe I could allow it this time since the season is basically over. We've got enough youngsters to watch shag fly balls in Mullins, Mountcastle, Stewart and hopefully Hays any day now.
Because with Velazquez lining up next to the third baseman also 40 feet away and his speed and the best thing Mullins does is bunt I think it would have to be a perfect fielding play and throw to get him out. I’ll repeat what I just wrote about Diaz. He could have started against a lefty today or been on the bench to hit against Chapman or Britton plus he has a cannon arm and I rather see him in CF or even right in close late innings games .
Time to bring up Diaz for the last few weeks of this crazy season . Can anyone dispute that move.
I’d like to see Diaz but where you gonna put him? He doesn’t profile as a CF and it’s foolish to sacrifice CF defense with a young pitching staff and two lesser defenders in the corners. Mountcastle is staying right where he is and you can’t move Stewart until the venom from whatever radioactive spider bit him several days ago runs out. Plus, I’m not really sold on Yusniel Diaz. What has he done since he reached the organization to show he’s better than any other Minor League ballplayer?
He can play right against lefties , occasionally center and today against a guy like Chapman what RH hitters did we have off the bench besides Holoday no one he would be valuable there plus he has a cannon arm and right now we have three weak throwing guys out there
They just lost 2-1 and wasted a great pitching performance. He could have Ellis Valentines arm and it wouldn’t matter if he doesn’t hit. Besides, it’s looking like while we all were transfixed with Diaz as the sexy name from the Machado trade, a young Israeli gentleman may have been the true diamond of that move.
Who said he doesn’t hit where did you get that from. Yes Kremer looks like the hidden gem of that trade but you can’t grade Diaz until you see him.
I said he doesn’t hit because if he did he’d already be on the roster