Carroll trying to convince Orioles to keep him (Akin optioned)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Cody Carroll knows the feeling of impressing the Orioles in spring training and failing to make the club.

He might be too good to pass up in 2020.

Carroll registered another scoreless inning tonight, stranding the Braves' Yangervis Solarte after a two-out double in the fourth by striking out Alex Jackson with a 96 mph fastball.

Drawing praise from manager Brandon Hyde before the game, Carroll has allowed only one run with one walk and seven strikeouts in six innings. He's keeping his fastball in the upper 90s.

Last year's removal from the camp roster was followed by a back injury that led to surgery and the inability to pitch above the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Carroll had led the team in spring saves with three and allowed two runs with one walk and nine strikeouts in seven innings. Opponents batted .185 against him.

It didn't convince the Orioles to keep him.

The reliever is healthy, which he proved in the Arizona Fall League. His numbers are healthy. An eight-man bullpen should have room for him.

Left-hander Keegan Akin cruised through the top of the first inning, throwing seven of nine pitches for strikes while retiring the Braves in order. He fanned Charlie Culberson with a 95 mph fastball and induced two ground balls, the first from former Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis.

Then the second inning happened.

Twenty-eight pitches and a long three-run homer from top prospect Cristian Pache. Also a walk and two singles. But also two more strikeouts.

Markakis lined to center and Ryan Casteel struck out in the third inning, but Austin Riley doubled off the fence in left-center field. Akin stranded him by retiring Adeiny Hechavarria on a bouncer to third.

Akin made it through three innings before Carroll replaced him at 51 pitches, including 38 for strikes.

Ian Anderson, the Braves' top pitching prospect, retired all nine batters he faced.

The Orioles didn't catch a break with the Braves split-squad road team.

Shane Greene replaced Anderson and retired the first two batters before Anthony Santander became the first Orioles baserunner with his first home run in his first game in the outfield.

Hanser Alberto hit his first home run with two outs in the fifth, after Dillon Tate's scoreless inning, and the Orioles trail 3-2.

Tate is coming back out for a second inning of work.

Update: Tate logged two scoreless innings in his finest outing of the spring.

Austin Hays singled with out out in the sixth, his fifth hit in 28 at-bats, and pinch-runner Andrew Velazquez scored the tying run on José Iglesias' double. Santander was hit by a pitch and Chris Davis walked to load the bases and Renato Núñez reached on an error for a 4-3 lead.

Dwight Smith Jr. was hit by a pitch to force in a run.

Update II: Yusniel Diaz had an RBI triple and the Orioles won 6-3.

Hyde on Akin: "I thought he had a good fastball again tonight. I just thought he missed location with the fastball trying to go in on Pache. Kind of left it middle over the plate. But I think the key with Keegan is going to be to be able to be consistent with his off-speed stuff. I love his fastball, I love the way he throws in. A lot of things I really like about his arsenal. Now it's about refining and being able to really locate off-speed stuff and he did it again on occasion tonight. Flashed some good changeups. Threw a few nice breaking balls. So I thought he did a nice job.

"He was one batter away from me having to go get him in the second inning and he comes back and has a really nice third inning. I've felt like he's gotten better every start from a stuff standpoint."

Hyde on Santander: "It was a beautiful swing. I love Tony's swing, so nice to see him get one airborne."

Hyde on Diaz: "D's an exciting player, plays with great energy. He's doing a great job defensively. His at-bats are starting to pile up and you're starting to see a little bit better at-bats. He missed some time there early, but yeah, he's a guy who can drive the ball to all fields. He drove one to right-center tonight, showed off his speed. There's a lot to like about him."

Update III: Akin was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after the game.