BOSTON—The Orioles were able to delay the inevitable for a night with a comeback win against the Yankees, but the Boston Red Sox handed them their 100th loss on Friday night in a game in which Baltimore showed little fight.
It marked the third time in four seasons that the Orioles have lost at least 100 games, with the 60-game 2020 season not counting in that run. They have 15 more games to play before the season ends on October 3rd.
Boston’s 7-1 win before an announced crowd of 29,811 at Fenway Park was the Orioles’ 10th loss in 14 games to the Red Sox in 2021.
The Orioles lost 100 in 1954, their first season in Baltimore, in a 154-game season. They didn’t lose 100 again until 1988 when they dropped the first 21 games and finished 54-107.
In 2018, they set a franchise record with 115 losses. In 2019, the first for general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde, they were 54-108.
“It’s been a tough year,” Hyde said. “We haven’t won many games. It’s been a tough year in a lot of ways. Hopefully, going forward, we’ll win more games than we won this year.”
Oriole starter Keegan Akin, whose solid showing last September was considered one of the signs that the team would be better this year, lost for the 10th time.
“He had a tough time putting away their hitters,” Hyde said. “He pitched into the fifth inning, no strikeouts, a lot of foul ball wars. It wasn’t sharp for me … the offspeed stuff, he had trouble landing it. Got to two strikes on a lot of hitters but didn’t have the weapons to put guys away with tonight. Just didn’t think he had his best stuff.”
Late last month, Akin recorded two consecutive wins after losing eight straight. On September 11th, Akin pitched six no-hit innings against Toronto before he allowed three of the 11 runs the team surrendered in a disastrous seventh inning.
Akin said he wasn’t aware that this loss was a significant one.
“I don’t really think it’s at the top of our minds right now,” he said. “No one’s really talking about it. I didn’t find out until after I came out of the game it could have been the 100th loss. Everybody comes in here and it’s not really a priority … try and finish strong.”
Against the Red Sox (84-65), who are involved in a mad scramble with the Blue Jays and Yankess for the two American League wild-card spots, Akin (2-10) allowed four runs on six hits in four-plus innings. He walked three.
“I feel like since the All-Star break there’s been a couple of rough outings, but for the most part, I came back and strung some good ones together,” Akin said. “Just grinding through these last couple of outings, and I’ll really try to step on the gas and finish strong.”
Boston scored two runs in the second on an RBI double by former Orioles shortstop José Iglesias and a sacrifice fly by Kiké Hernandez. Bobby Dalbec hit his 23rd home run in the fourth.
Chris Sale (4-0), who hadn’t pitched since September 6th because he was on the Covid-19 injured list, gave up a leadoff single to Cedric Mullins in the first and Austin Hays’ 21st home run in the second.
After Hays’ homer, Sale retired 11 straight batters before walking Ryan McKenna with two outs in the fifth. He struck out one before he was lifted after five.
Dusten Knight, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Norfolk, allowed Hunter Renfroe’s three-run double in the sixth while recording just one out.
For Boston, Garrett Whitlock, Hirokazu Sawamura, Matt Barnes and Martin Perez pitched four shutout innings, giving up just two hits.
“It was not a great night for us,” Hyde said. “We had four hits … It was pretty empty for us offensively as well.”
Notes: Trey Mancini (sore oblique) and Pedro Severino (upper leg/groin soreness) returned to the lineup after missing two games. They were hitless in seven at-bats. … Cal Ripken Jr., whose home run record as an Oriole rookie, 28, was broken when Ryan Mountcastle hit his 29th on Thursday night, responded on Twitter: “Congratulations to Ryan on setting the new O’s rookie home run record. He’s a dynamic player. I wish him nothing but the best and excited to watch him in the years to come. All Orioles fans should be excited that he’s on our team.”
Second baseman Jahmai Jones, who was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after Thursday night’s game to make room for Knight, needs to play more, Hyde said. Because of Ramón Urías’ nagging upper leg injury, Hyde is trying to play him more at second base than at shortstop, leaving little playing time for Jones at second. Hyde said the team wanted Jones to get regular at-bats in Norfolk. … Zac Lowther (0-2, 9.92 ERA) will face Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.55) on Saturday. The game will begin at 1:10 p.m. … The Arizona Diamondbacks also lost their 100th game on Friday night.
Minor league update: Drew Rom threw five perfect innings as Double-A Bowie beat Altoona, 3-1. The Baysox are a win away from clinching a playoff berth. Rom (3-1) struck out five. Tyler Burch pitched a perfect sixth before Ryan Conroy allowed an unearned run in the eighth.
The Curve, which had just two hits, committed five errors. Third baseman Patrick Dorrian hit a two-run home run, his 21st.
Rightfielder Kyle Stowers’ 10th-inning RBI single lifted Norfolk over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 4-3. The Tides scored two runs in the 10th. Kyle Bradish started and allowed an unearned run on four hits in five innings. He struck out eight without walking a batter.
Paul Fry pitched a spotless sixth, striking out two. Second baseman Rylan Bannon hit his 15th home run.
Zach Peek, Adam Stauffer and Garrett Farmer combined on a four-hitter as High-A Aberdeen beat Greenville, 1-0. Peek (4-0) allowed two hits in five innings, walking two and striking out six. First baseman TT Bowens hit his fourth home run in the fourth inning.
Third baseman Coby Mayo drove in four runs with a home run and double as Low-A Delmarva beat Salem, 13-4. Mayo hit his fifth home run and first baseman Jacob Teter, who had three RBIs, hit his third homer, a two-run shot. Colton Cowser, the team’s top draft pick this year, had three hits and drove in three.
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Coby Mayo a local product out of Coral Springs Marjorie Stonmann HS. We all know unfortunately what’s that famous for but also Anthony Rizzo went there. I’m looking forward him to be the future third baseman , Cowser at second and Westburg or Henderson at SS. With Adley behind the plate. Maybe 2023 more like 2024
Bruce, Cowser is an outfielder.
Akin… “and I’ll try to step on the gassed finish strong”. The guy is clueless! He’s pitching for his life every time he goes out there… and now, with a record of 2-10 he’s going to “to step on the gas”. Unbelievable! I’ve been on his case ever since he got here. Plain and simple he’s NOT a major league pitcher in either ability or brains. All we can do is hope that some of the others in the minors can show enough next Spring to replace him or, Elias breaks down and releases some cash to bring in a few REAL pitchers from FA. Probably dreaming. I know… just saying…
Yeah, regardless of how the team is doing, good or bad, it would be nice if he knew the teams record. I'm guessing he also doesnt know much about the history of the Orioles either.
If you are going to mock a player's comment, you could at least quote his comment correctly. I will forgo commenting about ability or brains though...
Stop policing these damn boards like you own the site or something. Try commenting on the articles themselves or opine in a related direction. Your schtick is getting old.
Give'em Hall !
To HmmmImNotSoSureAboutThat… sorry I offended you. Your comment shows me that a few people read what I write and doesn’t lessen the point I was making.
I read you EkimC. Every post.
To me, Akin can come across as somewhat bewildered, or overly optimistic in his post game comments.
His assessment of his own performance often seems rosy and contradicts what Hyde says regards the same performance. Sort of blasé.
He wasn’t aware that this loss was a significant one? Really, that’s what you say?
I guess maybe when losing 100 games a year 3 out 4 past seasons, that’s what it becomes, but how about a little accountability instead of the deer in the headlights type comments.
Couple comments, someone needs to tell Akin WINNING is a priority, at least in most organizations, glad to see Rom & Bradish could make it to the magical 5th inning, they’ll fit in perfectly sometime in the future…go O’s…
As I pointed out the other day, the Orioles have had far fewer injuries than most teams, and because of a lost minor league season, they’ve been conservative with innings, and most of the pitchers have made it through the season without getting hurt.
Thanks, they were comments, didn’t require answers, I have my own, so lil time left in MiLB 5 innings doesn’t offset what could be learned by the pitchers about themselves by being extended, setting them up for 2022 going 5 innings…go O’s…
"I have my own" "I don't care" you're an unassailable bastion of unique proprietary knowledge CP
Nice verbiage. We're all impressed. But wouldn't all proprietary knowledge be considered unique?
Akin hasn't been a total wash. 6 no-hit innings in his last outing(Blue Jays of all teams). So he deserves some attention. In the realm of things why not? This Drew Rom is a big-time dark horse behind GRod and Hall. Hard to watch Mancini--he's a shell of himself. Contributes very little. Hays hits a fastball better than anybody on the team. If Mountcastle doesn't get his "pitch" he can be man-handled. God I'd love to see Guttierrez learn to hit. He's got everything else. Sad to see Jones get demoted but it was the right thing to do. I'll say it again--please hitters swing at hittable pitches. Knight continued this 2021 tradition--call a pitcher up and watch him immediately get bombed. The collective ERA on that Norfolk "shuttle" must be astronomical. They're 47-100 as we speak. They need 3 wins out of their final 15 for 50 wins. Do-able?
1. Mancini missed 3 of 4 games before last night due to injury and the 1 game he did play in he was removed after 4 innings. Did he strike out each at bat last night? Did he strike out at all? Did he nail one ball with 99.2 MPH exit velocity 359 feet? No, no, and yes. Congrats for turning a 0-4 night after being out injured into he's a shell of himself comment. BTW he is hitting 0.310 in September...
2. No Hays does not hit the FB better than anyone on the team, Mountcastle hits the FB slightly better than Hays. Hays is batting 0.278 with 0.506 SLG % against FB, Mountcastle batting 0.280 with 0.589 SLG %, so your statement is incorrect. Both Hays and Mouncastle have weak spots within the strike zone...
To Hmmm…etc,etc,etc. I was unaware that Rich appointed you as proofreader. I’m sure other regular readers with thank him though… just saying…
EkimC, he likes to argue with ANYONE, he doesn’t discriminate, equal time wiseacre with everyone…go O’s…
I think Akin was a victim of a lefty pitcher in Fenway. I didn’t think he pitched as bad as his line indicated. But about hays now I guarantee you he sits today against the righty. Which I get but I saw a stat that this month against righties he’s batting like 289 or something. He said himself that he starting to recognize pitches better. Not to mention his defensive value.
You're sending the guy that was targeted to be your starting 2nd baseman at the beginning of the year ... a guy you traded your #1 or #2 starter for .... down because you want to play a marginal major league infielder with a sore groin at 2nd instead of shortstop? Horsepucky. You're insinuating to us that Jones is a liability with the bat at this level? WhaaaaaaaTF? After 100 loses you're worried about that? This is NOT the right thing to do. But since when is that a concern with the management?
BSBSBSBSBSBSBS ... spin it however you want, but what you do in this case is you keep Urias and his nagging injury on the bench, and throw Jones to the wolves and let him sink or swim. Give the man a fighter's chance ... let's see what he's got now, not in 2022. He can get JUST A MANY at bats with is loser club as he can in Norfolk.
I can't believe what a joke of a franchise this team has become. It's embarrassing to wear ANY of my O's hats out of the house.
PS...Drink Pepsi dammit!
Agree 100%? on Jones. We know what Valaika can do. Give Jones a chance. Or if not let’s see Bannon
A word in defense of Keegan Akin as interviewee. He's not a trained speaker or PR man, and speaking on Zoom will never be normal. I've come to understand why international players have interpreters, even if they can converse in English. As for his not knowing it was the 100th loss, that number was inevitable before the end of the season. We have to be patient; it's part of The Plan. If not, the media would be interviewing ME about a tragic, unexpected event. When you have a pattern of losing 100, the 100th loss is a nothing-to-see-here event.
So having a pattern of losing 100 is part of "the plan"?
How else do you get the Number One Pick?
Well you could start by losing honestly like Duquette did in 2018 ... as apposed to by design as Elias has the past 3.
We ARE on the same page on this one are we not Will?
Boog, I was describing The Plan as I understand it, not advocating it. We have been advised more than once to ignore the record of the Baltimore club until 2024 or whenever. If you pay attention to it, you may lose faith in The Plan.
Gotcha Will. I thought you were one of the few with ... well .. I'll leave it at that as to not offend any of the believers. You're a good man WM. The plan .. I get it .... stay the course.
OK WIllMiranda....I thought we were on the same page here.
Your statement leaves no room for doubt. You're saying the fix is in. The team is intentionally trying to accumulate the most losses in baseball.
I've been saying that here for past 3 years. The Tank is on. It started by keeping Sisco, Hays and Santander down on the farm too long, and then the trading of any pitcher we had that was worth a dang.
Willmiranda, guessing your referring to my post about Akin. Your response is a good one, and I respect it.
However please note that I am not trying to denigrate him as a human being, though certain others here would certainly do so. I wish him well, and think he has some talent for sure.
I just cannot agree with “a 100th loss is a nothing to see event”. That’s so apathetic, and breeds more complacency.
I agree that if you don’t have fluency with a language, get an interpreter, all I am asking is to comport yourself as a professional representative of the organization. In this case it means showing a little concern or contrition even if your not feeling it. Own your failure, don’t downplay the losses even though we weren’t going to be in contention in the first place.
I realize he’s not a professional speaker - he’s an athlete not a master of oratory. I’m not asking for glib platitudes when a little situational awareness would suffice.
Thanks, Icterus, for your reply. I wasn't consciously focusing on your post, but it seemed as if several posters were coming down on Akin. To cut to the chase, I think that more attention should be given to whom the team presents as available for interviews. Every team usually has some players who are more outgoing and articulate than others and who even enjoy giving interviews. To be honest, I wouldn't really tune into a Keegan Akin interview, but I've usually found Trey Mancini interesting. It may be a matter of taste or temperament, but I would prefer not to listen to "concern or contrition" over losing a baseball game, especially when it happens a hundred times over a few months. I think there's something unhealthy about beating yourself up repeatedly over "failure," especially when it's beyond your control. Finally, as for downplaying the losses, as I wrote to Boog, that has been a part of The Plan from the beginning. We may disagree on some of these, but I respect your comments and thank you for responding to mine.
Losses suck, making a living for many yrs as a coach learning to deal with losses was never easy, I have no idea how Hyde seriously sits through the seasons he’s had the last three yrs, at least when I had a bad season I could recruit to replace the weak spot, he’s at Mikeys mercy, but it still reflects on him, good luck trying to get another MLB manager job when they’re done with you…go O’s…
I'd like to submit my resume for the job now ... with special emphasis on my Strat-O-Matic experience stretching back to my Sopomore year's High School Championship at Wachusett Regional High school in Massachusetts.
Mikey would love that, an analytical guy…;)…go O’s…
BRR, I’ve never played Strat-O-Magic or APBA (is that correct?), but don’t they rely on actual players stats? If so, good luck putting a pitching staff together nowadays. I lived Earl Weaver (didn’t we all?) but he’d have had a helluva time managing in today’s environment of needing 13-14 players on a 26 man roster just for pitchers.
This all true DLG. Unfortunately, my life long Strato opponent passed away over 12 years ago now. Although I still buy the sets every year, I've never really played with pitchers that get tired so quickly. Not sure how it would play in today's game.
Unfortunately guessing the O’s pitchers wouldn’t quite make it 5 innings…lol…;)…go O’s…
Akin has had the same two problems all year landing his breaking pitches when he needs to and keeping his mouth shut .
He cannot land his breaking stuff routinely in the zone particularly if he needs it to put a batter away this is something he needs to routinely work on in the off season at someplace other than his barn in western Michigan.
Secondly just be quiet every time he opens his mouth it’s a problem . He didn’t know it would be the clubs 100 loss really you don’t get how bad you’ve been for 6 months your that disinterested . The comment about adding gas when your 2-10 with an era as high as Mt Everest is just stupid just be quiet Keegan maybe when your 10-2 you can have a presser.
Absolutely no reason for Valaika to be back here, that ship has sailed, maybe he got the photos from Wilkerson?!
I'm sorry, but I couldn't care less what Akin says or doesn't say in interviews or how he says it. I'm more interested in determining whether the Orioles' Wilderness Years are mainly the result of a deliberate effort to tank or mainly the result of mindless incompetence and penny-pinching. Help me out here.
I think mindless tanking…;)…go O’s…
Anybody see Kevin Gausman win the game for SF with his BAT last night. He had a walk-off sac fly in the 11th inning.
Yes, it was hysterical, he was the only player available to pinch hit, Giants just know how to win…go O’s…