Keegan Akin got another start for the Baltimore Orioles last night against Detroit, and with the same results we’ve been conditioned to expect. Akin has been much better out of the bullpen, but the Orioles needed a starter last night. And he was the man. Following a two-hour two-hour rain delay before the game, he was ineffective. Akin’s line: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
Akin surrendered two runs in the second, and four in the third. Many of his pitches were coming in right down Broadway. Straight and centered; basically squared up. All Detroit had to do was hit them. And they did.
On two separate occasions a Detroit base runner was able to score from first on a double – a statistical oddity in a park like Camden Yards. But the lengthy rain delay and the epic-type storms that came through probably slowed down the track a bit. Meaning that rolling balls rolled slower, allowing guys to score from first.
The game wasn’t void of Oriole highlights, however. Anthony Santander smacked solo homers in the second and in the fourth. The Birds trailed 6-2 after that second home run. It appeared that the damage was already done.
But the Orioles did appear to at least try to make a run at it. To their credit. DJ Stewart also smacked a solo homer in the last of the fourth, his first home run since June. Cedric Mullins was also able to score in the fifth on a throwing error. This cut the Detroit lead to 6-4.
However Detroit would shut the Orioles down in terms of doing further damage later in the game. Candelario would also smack a two-run homer in the eighth, and Grossmab an RBI-single in the ninth, giving Detroit a 9-4 win on a rainy night in Baltimore.
The series continues tonight at Camden Yards. Matt Harvey gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Detroit’s Tarik Skubal. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 