O's game blog: O's try to avoid sweep in K.C. (Keegan Akin honored)

KANSAS CITY - Four days after sweeping a three-game series at home versus Toronto, the Orioles need a win today to avoid being swept three in a row at Kansas City.

These teams have the two worst records in the majors and now K.C. is 4 1/2 games better than the Orioles at 44-91 to the Orioles 40-96. Just five teams in Orioles history have lost 97 or more games and this O's edition will join them with a loss today. The last to do so was the 2009 Orioles with 98 losses.

Right-hander David Hess (3-8, 5.08 ERA) will make his 17th appearance and 15th big league start today. On Monday night at Oriole Park, in his latest strong start, Hess pitched six scoreless on four hits versus Toronto, throwing 99 pitches. His ERA is at its lowest point since June 19.

Hess has allowed three earned runs and 12 hits in 19 innings his past three starts, for an ERA of 1.42. His ERA is 2.19 over his past four starts.

Toronto went 0-for-6 against Hess with runners in scoring position. For the year Hess has allowed an average against of just .217 when pitching with RISP. And that is .130 (3-for-23) when pitching with runners in scoring position and two outs.

On Aug. 3 at Texas, Hess allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings as his ERA increased to 6.41. After that game, pitching coach Roger McDowell challenged him to prove he could do a lot better. Hess accepted the challenge. He said it might have been a turning point.

"I think in a lot of ways it was. I pride myself on being a competitor and I think that brought that out a little bit more," Hess said. "Then I think that kind of resonated and showed a bit in Cleveland. That was a big turning point with the bases loaded strikeout to (Yonder) Alonso. That showed, even in a jam, we can make pitches and get our way out of situations."

After that Toronto start, catcher Caleb Joseph said at a time when young pitchers on the pitching staff need to step up, Hess has been doing that.

"There are opportunities all over the place for these young guys," Joseph said. "You want to leave a lasting impression. We talked about it with Roger (McDowell, pitching coach). He got the pitchers together and we talked about that. We talked about look, opportunities are short and sweet here in the big leagues. You want to give a good impression and finish this season out strong. A lot of guys are auditioning for next year and you have to step up and take the opportunity and take it by the reigns and go. That applies to just about everybody in the clubhouse."

Right-hander Jorge Lopez (0-3, 7.90 ERA) will make his fourth start for the Royals. He gave up five run in four innings his last time out versus Cleveland. In three games with Kansas City he has thrown 13 2/3 innings, allowing 18 hits with eight walks and 10 strikeouts.

The 25-year-old Lopez came to K.C. with outfielder Brett Phillips on July 27 in a deal that sent third baseman Mike Moustakas to Milwakee.

Tim Beckham had four hits last night to raise his average from .216 to .227. Beckham's solo homer in the fourth inning Saturday night was his 10th, nine of which have come in his last 43 games. He hit just one his first 36 games. After starting 0-for-16 in his career versus Kansas City, he's 13-for-31 (.419/.419/.667) in seven games since.

O's outfielder John Andreoli put Baltimore on the board with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the second inning. That was his first Major League RBI in his 11th game career game.

Akin's award: Double-A Bowie left-hander Keegan Akin is going to be named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. He is 14-7 with a 3.27 ERA and leads the league in wins and strikeouts and ranks third in ERA. Until he gave up 10 runs his last two starts he had a shot to win the pitching version of a Triple Crown and lead the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

Akin is also a strong contender to win the Jim Palmer award as the Orioles' minor league Pitcher of the Year. Before Akin, the last Baysox hurler to win the Eastern League honor was right-hander Brad Bergesen in 2008.