Akin shines and Stewart busts out of slump in 6-1 win (updated)

Keegan Akin didn't know the exact date when the Orioles intended to set him free from the alternate camp site and promote him to the majors. He had no idea that his debut in the rotation would happen in Buffalo and in the thick of the trade deadline. And he couldn't anticipate that he'd get into a pitchers' duel this month with Gerrit Cole.

One is a rookie making his second start. The other is making $324 million.

Akin didn't allow a run tonight through the first three innings. Cole struck out eight of the first nine batters.

It apparently was going to be that kind of night. Akin just trying to keep up and the Orioles hoping to put a ball in play.

They eventually did more than that, a sudden and unexpected outburst producing five runs in the sixth inning, beginning with the first of two DJ Stewart homers on the night, in a 6-1 victory over the Yankees at Camden Yards.

Their first baserunner came with two outs in the fourth on José Iglesias' double. Cole wouldn't be perfect. Just a pest with a penchant for striking out anyone with a pulse.

The game remained scoreless with one out in the sixth inning and a runner on first base when manager Brandon Hyde came to the mound. The entire infield and catcher Pedro Severino surrounded Akin to congratulate him.

Akin didn't get the decision - Dillon Tate would get the win, his first in the big leagues - but he's going to receive many more opportunities in the rotation.

Stewart's first hit of the season was a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth, the ball reaching the flag court as the dugout erupted. Stewart was 0-for-17 with nine walks and 11 strikeouts, but he caught up to a 96 mph fastball and put a run on the board.

The ball traveled 353 feet per Statcast but had a 43 degree launch angle. Stewart didn't care if it rolled up the wall and down the other side.

Ryan Mountcastle lined a 98 mph fastball into center field with the bases loaded and two outs to score two more runs, and Rio Ruiz followed with a two-run double for a 5-0 lead. The ball boy mistakenly made a play on it, but Ruiz was awarded second base.

Four of the runs were unearned after third baseman Thairo Estrada's errant throw on a routine grounder was followed by two walks and Mountcastle's latest statement that he belongs in the majors.

So does Akin, who watched the Orioles improve to 18-21 overall and 9-15 at home.

The kids are all right.

Cole retired 15 of the first 16 batters before Stewart strolled to the plate. Anthony Santander is on the injured list and likely done for the season with a strained oblique. Stewart is the new right fielder if he's able to convince Hyde that he deserves to stay there.

No one else should be under consideration for Sunday's series finale.

Miguel Yajure replaced Cole, who struck out 10 batters in six innings, and Stewart greeted him with a 404-foot homer to right, the exit velocity at 107.5 mph. Stewart had his first career multi-homer game and the Orioles led 6-0.

Stewart admired his work and flipped his bat. The dugout erupted again. And then Mason Williams replaced him in right field in the eighth.

Tate took over for Akin in the sixth and struck out Miguel Andújar. Clint Frazier broke for third base on a ball in the dirt and Severino threw him out, the call reversed on the challenge.

Paul Fry stranded two runners in the seventh as the Orioles sought their first shutout of the Yankees since 2016, but Frazier hit a solo home run in the eighth. César Valdez inherited two runners with two outs in the ninth and got a force out with one pitch.

Akin faced the Blue Jays on Monday, put back in his natural role after two relief appearances, and didn't allow an earned run in 4 1/3 innings. He induced three fly balls to right field in the first inning tonight and walked Gleyber Torres on four pitches.

He had a plan.

A single and balk complicated his second inning, but he struck out Estrada to end the rally. Torres led off the fourth with a double, Akin struck out the next two batters, Andújar walked and Kyle Higashioka grounded into a force.

He also had nerves of steel.

They showed again in the fifth after a pair of two-out walks brought Torres to the plate and pitching coach Doug Brocail to the mound. Torres lined to right field and Akin had five scoreless frames at 83 pitches. No one began to warm in the bullpen until Akin returned for the sixth and Tate grabbed a ball.

Mountcastle was the only Orioles batter to avoid striking out during Cole's first trip through the order. He grounded to shortstop with one out in the second inning.

The rookie had a regression in some of his stats before the game started.

The latest scoring change on his ground ball to Toronto's Travis Shaw on Aug. 28 has removed a hit and RBI from his line. Shaw is now charged with an error and both runs are unearned.

The original scoring gave Mountcastle an infield hit and two RBIs. Then it became a hit with one RBI. And now this.

Check back next week when it's a fielder's choice and he's somehow credited with the win.

Hanser Alberto and Chance Sisco flied out in the fourth. Cole must have been tiring. And Iglesias followed with a drive to left-center field, the ball rolling to the warning track for his 13th double among 36 hits.

The fake crowd breathed a sigh of relief.

Iglesias drew a walk during the five-run sixth, only his second of the season. The fake crowd gasped.

Update: The Orioles optioned pitcher David Hess after the game. He didn't pitch tonight.

Hyde isn't ready to announce Sunday's starter. Perhaps the corresponding move is a factor.

The organization has been discussing promoting Dean Kremer to the majors. Stay tuned.

Hyde on Akin in pitchers' duel: "I'll tell you what, Kegan picked up where he left off in Buffalo. He was once again aggressive in the strike zone, aggressive with his fastball. Saw some really good changeups tonight. Got a lot of swings and misses on his fastball that's got a lot of hop to it. Great tempo on the mound, attack mode, faced a great pitcher in Gerrit Cole. Got a tough time getting a hit until Iglesias got that one in left-center. Just really impressed with Keegan Akin's poise and how he attacked a good lineup."

Hyde on Stewart: "Happy for him. Credit to him that he went down to our secondary site and really put the work in. Made some adjustments, made some improvements and came back here with some confidence. It didn't happen the first game or two for him, but to see him turn around a Gerrit Cole fastball and hit it for a home run to right, I know that must have been an amazing feeling for him, just because the work he's put in has been outstanding. And he's always had a great attitude, too. I know he went down there with a great attitude. He went with the mindset of getting better and improving, making some adjustments, and he's done that."

Akin on being in duel with Cole: "I would say it's very exciting. Obviously, that caliber of pitcher on the mound you've just got to go out there and keep your team in the ballgame and hope they put up runs like they did."

Akin on composure facing Cole: "At first I had some thoughts about it, like, all right, this is real, you know? That type of thing. But once I got to the ballpark and started looking at the lineup and doing my research and figuring things out, I kind of settled in and went from there."

Akin on getting same results with fastball up here: "It feels good, I guess is the best way to say it, really. Last year I struggled a little bit and I bought into the whole throwing my off-speed stuff, and I think it's showing that's it's made me better and more consistent."

Stewart on ending hitless streak: "It was very satisfying. Obviously, anytime you start slow it weighs in the back of your head, but I've had a great support staff back home and my teammates just believing in me and still cheering me on. Giving me the confidence to go up there every at-bat and just keep swinging."

Stewart on approach versus Cole in sixth: "My plan the second at-bat was just to be more on time. I felt like I was seeing him well the first at-bat, just fouling off pitches straight back, so that could just be round ball, round bat. I laid off a first-pitch breaking ball, and that was a pretty good pitch he got me out the first at-bat, and then he went to the same spot, but with the fastball, and I was a little more on time and able to get the head out, and luckily it got out for me."