A walk-off loss, Akin tries to regroup, Povich set to debut

TORONTO - For the Orioles, it has been a while since they scored so few runs and awhile since they suffered a walk-off loss.

But they dropped to 3.5 games out behind the surging Yankees in the AL East with a 3-2 defeat in the last of the ninth at Toronto. They previously had two walk-off losses on back-to-back days, April 6-7 at Pittsburgh.

They came into this game going 10-2 and scoring 75 runs the previous 12 games. Then they scored twice in the second inning and nothing after that in their lowest scoring game since producing one run in the second game of the series at St. Louis.

Toronto (29-32) produced its second walk-off win and 11th comeback win.

Even with a loss the Orioles are 6-3 in a 14-game stretch against AL East teams. Overall they have won five of seven and 10 of their past 13. Last night was just their second loss in their last 11 games at Rogers Centre.

Akin regroups: Lefty Keegan Akin has had an up and down season for the Orioles. Overall, he has put up a zero – throwing a scoreless outing – in 20 of his 26 appearances.

He’s often been effective but also has had four games allowing 11 of the 13 runs he has given up this season. From May 21-28 he gave up seven runs in five innings over three games. It looked rough for him.

But now he has back-to-back scoreless outings again, the latest when he pitched a scoreless ninth Monday at Rogers Centre.

Akin hopes he has gotten his mostly good season back on track.

“My mechanics just got a little goofy on me," he told me in the visitor's clubhouse in Toronto. "Just trying to get those back under control and I think I’ve done that. Now time to build on it and keep it rolling again.”

Akin said it wasn’t even throwing via bullpen sessions where he smoothed out his mechanics but just in playing catch in the outfield.

“Just trying to get things back on time and I think I did that,” he said. “I was just rushing to the plate and needed to slow it down. My timing got out of whack and that threw everything off for a bit.”

So Akin has put up a zero for the year in 77 percent of his 2024 games.

“You are going to have days when you give it up. Unfortunately, in my case it was not just once or twice but I need to limit those games to one or two runs. But you realize the hitters are good too," he said. 

Akin had a 6.85 ERA over 24 games last year and didn’t pitch after June 28 due to a back issue. He’s excited to be back healthy this season and hoping to help this team back to the postseason.

“Just to be healthy and to be back with this group of guys means a lot,” said Akin. “Definitely makes you realize when you are sitting on the sidelines watching, how fun it was to watch last year. But definitely wish I could have been a part of it.”

Povich debuts: Ranked as the Orioles' No. 8 prospect by Baseball America and No. 9 by MLBPipeline.com, left-hander Cade Povich gets the start for the Orioles today in the series finale. It will be his MLB debut.

It will be the second debut this series and the fourth by an Oriole this year following David Bañuelos on April 16, Jackson Holliday April 10 and Connor Norby Monday night. 

Manager Brandon Hyde made that announcement after Thursday's game.

Povich, 24, has gone 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 Triple-A starts. Over 56 2/3 innings he has allowed 42 hits, with 21 walks and 75 strikeouts for a 3.3 walk rate and 11.9 K rate. He has a 1.11 WHIP and .203 average against with the Tides.

Before last night's game and before we knew Povich would start today, O's outfielder Kyle Stowers talked about the lefty, who he played behind often this season with Norfolk.

“Been throwing a lot of strikes with five or six pitches," Stowers said. "Got the four-seam, two-seam that runs and rides, changeup, curveball, slider/cutter. Lot of strikes and he was getting ahead of hitters and then putting them away. He goes out there and competes and is someone I love playing behind."

Stowers said Povich showed some improvement late last season for the Tides and that carried into this season.

“Did pretty well down the (2023) stretch. He threw in the International League championship game, what was Game 3 versus Durham (pitching four scoreless). It was wet and rainy, and he competed man.

"I think the biggest difference might be just how much more aggressive he is within the zone. Maybe he is more polished this year, I don’t know. But seems like he is more aggressive and confident in the zone with hitters. And not scared to go after guys, because he knows he’s got good stuff," said Stowers.