Late runs stretch Orioles' losing streak to 13 games (updated)

Keegan Akin blew a 92 mph fastball by Zack Collins today to end the second inning and shook his head on his way back to the dugout, the disgust as visible as his facial hair. A silent scolding for a pair of two-out walks. Knowing what's unacceptable to the rookie and the people evaluating him.

A leadoff home run by sudden slugger Billy Hamilton in the bottom of the third also was frowned upon, another early lead vanishing before it could be celebrated.

Akin gave the Orioles 4 2/3 innings in his initial start of the season, unable to provide length but holding the White Sox to one run. Now it was a question of whether the bullpen could keep the game tied and if a runner in scoring position might make it home before the Orioles left the road.

Nothing else changed. The same expressions, the same blank stares from the dugout as another congratulatory line formed on the field.

The White Sox scored two runs off reliever Dillon Tate in the seventh inning, Lucas Giolito struck out 12 batters and the Orioles lost 3-1 at Guaranteed Rate Field to run their streak to 13 games, the longest since September 2009.

The Orioles are 17-36 and have dropped 20 of 22. The sweep was the first for the White Sox in a four-game series in Chicago since June 18-21, 1956.

Tim Anderson led off the seventh with a soft single over Stevie Wilkerson's head, stole second base, moved to third on Tate's errant pickoff throw and scored on Nick Madrigal's triple into the right field corner. Yoán Moncada lined a single up the middle for a 3-1 lead.

Tate was making his second appearance, both in this series, since his reinstatement from the injured list. He's allowed three runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings.

"I thought he had good stuff," manager Brandon Hyde said on his Zoom call. "After the run scored I thought he threw his fastball a little bit better, but we just didn't execute there defensively, he didn't execute the inside move, which he had an easy out there. That ended up being the winning run."

DJ Stewart homered in the top of the third on a two-strike, 94 mph fastball from Giolito, who retired the first seven batters, but Hamilton connected for the second time in less than 24 hours. His first season with multiple homers since 2018 with the Reds and his first in back-to-back games since June 14-15, 2014 in Milwaukee.

Thumping the baseball isn't usually his thing.

Akin threw 63 pitches in three innings, but only 15 in the fourth while retiring the side in order. That got him back on the mound for the fifth, when he put runners on the corners with one out on singles by Anderson and Madrigal and struck out Moncada.

Adam Plutko walked José Abreu to load the bases and shortstop Freddy Galvis made a fantastic backhand stop and throw from his knees on the outfield grass to get the force at second. A 102.8 mph laser from Yermín Mercedes, played on one hop, that didn't break the tie and set up Akin for a possible loss.

Plutko had let nine of 18 inherited runners score before today.

"I was pretty happy with it, especially being my first time out this year as a starter," Akin said in his Zoom call. "Obviously, some things I need to take away from it and learn, like the two walks there back-to-back and just attacking hitters a little better than I did. Try to stay out of the three-ball counts as much as possible. That way I can start getting deeper into the game, getting into that sixth inning. But overall I was happy with it. Obviously, wish I could have gotten through five, but I get it, the circumstances, high pitch count and a little bit better matchup with Plutko coming. So totally understand it and OK with it.

"To me, it's a great opportunity. I'll help this team any way I can, whether it's out of the bullpen throwing three innings, whether it's starting. I'm just happy to be back on track and things going in the right direction and being here with these guys and helping out any way they need it."

Akin allowed five hits, walked two batters and struck out four. He threw 94 pitches, matching his career high on Sept. 22, 2020 in Boston.

"I thought Keegan was outstanding," Hyde said. "Went into the fifth inning in his first start. Really had him scheduled for around four innings if he could, and for him to go into the fifth inning, that was impressive, and almost got through that fifth inning there. I thought he threw the ball great. Had really good life to his fastball, liked the way he attacked hitters for the most part. A couple walks hurt him, hurt his pitch count, but that's a really good lineup. That's a playoff-type lineup, and I thought he did a really nice job in his first start."

Giolito struck out 11 batters in 5 1/3 innings, but Cedric Mullins reached on a bunt single with one out in the sixth and stole second base, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases in a 1-1 tie. Giolito also threw a wild pitch prior to the second walk. He flung open the door for an Orioles team that can't buy a clutch hit.

Anthony Santander struck out for the third time, Maikel Franco popped up in foul territory and the run well stayed dry. The Orioles were 0-for-24 with runners in scoring position in the series and are 4-for-56 in their last seven games.

Mullins tripled with two outs in the third and was stranded.

"Once again we're in the game, another close game, we just don't quite score enough runs," Hyde said. "Besides that seventh, I thought we threw the ball really well, held a good club to three runs on the day. That's a win on most nights, but we're lacking the big hit in a big spot."

"I would say the mood's OK," Akin said. "I think some guys are just pressing a little bit. I don't think we're playing bad baseball. It's been a tough couple games the last three games and we've kind of got to get on the right page and go from there."

Held to three hits, the Orioles had nothing left after the seventh, when Giolito headed to the bench and waited to shake hands after the final out. The 13-game losing streak will be transported back to Baltimore. Along with the same questions about all the reasons why it exists.

"I think we've just got to continue to push," Hyde said. "Like I said, we're in almost every game and so now it's ... It was a tough road trip. The majority of the games were right there for us in the sixth, seventh and eighth inning. We're hanging around, we're not quitting, guys are competing, so I'm happy about that.

"We could use a three-run homer big-time in a big spot."