Akin allows walkoff home run to Turner as Orioles lose to Cubs, 5-3

CHICAGO–What happened? The Orioles haven’t won a game all season when they trailed after eight innings. In the top of the ninth, they tied their game against the Chicago Cubs, 3-3, when Colton Cowser doubled and scored with two outs on a pinch-hit single by Ryan Noda, who joined the team earlier in the day.

In the bottom of the ninth, Keegan Akin, who saved Saturday’s game, allowed a two-run home run to Justin Turner, and the Orioles lost, 5-3, before 39,430 at Wrigley Field on Sunday.

Dansby Swanson reached on a throwing error by third baseman Jordan Westburg and Turner homered to left.

The Orioles (51-61) lost two of three to the Cubs (65-46).

Noda’s big hit pumped life into the Orioles, but the 29-year-old first baseman watched from the bench as his new team gave it back in the bottom of the ninth.

“It’s a spot you dream of as a kid, right?” Noda said. “Ninth inning, two outs, guy on second, down by one. Just trying to do a team at-bat, doing anything I can to get that guy in. Fortunately today, he left something over the middle of the plate, and I capitalized on it.”

Brandon Young allowed two unearned runs in the first. Seiya Suzuki’s RBI single and Ian Happ’s run-scoring double came after Jeremiah Jackson muffed Michael Busch’s routine fly ball for a two-base error. Carson Kelly was tagged out at home trying to score on Happ’s double.

Young gave up five hits in 4 2/3 innings.

“I feel like he threw the ball good,” Mansolino said. “I feel like he couldn’t put people away. I feel like he kept getting to two strikes and then he couldn’t put guys away. He  ran up the pitch count a little bit, kind of running through that part of the lineup right there the third time, it got a little murky there in the fifth.”

Alex Jackson scored on Gunnar Henderson’s infield out in the third, and the Orioles tied it, 2-2, in the fourth on Cowser’s RBI single.

In his first game with the Orioles, left-hander Dietrich Enns gave up three straight two-out singles in sixth inning. Enns entered the game with two outs in the fifth and retired his first three batters before Willi Castro singled with two outs in the sixth. Nico Hoerner singled, and Castro scored on Swanson’s single.

“We had Dietrich primed and ready to go,” Mansolino said. “Been through it, been in Japan, Korea, the big leagues, 34-year-old man who’s been in big spots. We felt like that was the right guy to get him out of trouble.”

Mansolino said that there was no update on starting pitcher Zach Eflin, who’s on the 15-day injured list with lower back discomfort. Tyler O’Neill, who was scratched from Saturday’s game because of illness, should be available to play on Monday when the Orioles start a three game series with the Phillies.

What did Mansolino think of the bullpen? Akin allowed his sixth home run of the season to Turner, but overall Mansolino was pleased with his three relievers.

“I think they did great,” he said. “For the most part, they threw up zeroes the whole weekend minus the home run by J.T. there at the end of the game, who’s done that a lot in his career in bigger moments than that. Minus the swing right there, you have to feel good about the way the guys handled themselves.”

How did Young pitch? Young is still looking for his first major league win after nine starts. He’s learning how to pitch in the major leagues.

“I think continuing to attack and get ahead, and just knowing that I don’t have to make the perfect pitch with two strikes, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Young said. “I think I got 0-2 on a few guys, and I just remember getting 1-2, 2-2, 3-2 like right away trying to make the perfect pitch instead of just going after them.”

He did enjoy pitching in Wrigley Field.

“It’s awesome, it really is special,” Young said. “First time being here, the crowd, atmosphere, the weather. Pretty cool.”

Roster moves: The Orioles claimed infielder/outfielder Vidal  Bruján, 27, off waivers from the Cubs. He has yet to report. They also claimed right-handed pitcher Carson Ragsdale, 27, from San Francisco and optioned him to Norfolk

Before the game, the Orioles recalled Noda from Norfolk. They claimed him off waivers from the Chicago White Sox and optioned him Norfolk on Saturday.

“For now, while he’s here, he’ll be a bat off the bench,” Mansolino said.

Utilityman Terrin Vavra was designated for assignment.

Mountcastle on hold: Mansolino says that first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who’s been at Norfolk rehabbing his right hamstring, would probably remain on his rehab assignment “a couple more days.”

Mansolino said his hamstring isn’t an issue.

“The right way to do it is to make sure the player’s in a good spot, physically, mentally, with this mechanics,” Mansolino said. “Sometimes it comes a little bit earlier, sometimes it comes a little bit later. We’ll see him here sooner or later.”

What does it mean? The Orioles will struggle to hold a lead with this inexperienced bullpen.

What’s the stat of the day? This was the Orioles’ second walkoff loss of the season. The first came in the first game of a doubleheader at Boston on May 24th.

What’s the word? “You want them to accumulate some innings, some work on the mound, go into the offseason healthy with a normal offseason and have them in a position in ’26 to where they can carry somewhat of a normal load.”–Mansolino on the Orioles’ plans for Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? In this third rehab start, his first for Norfolk, Kyle Bradish allowed seven runs, five earned, on six hits in three innings, striking out one and walking one while throwing 57 pitches.

Bradish can have up to 30 days on rehab , which would probably mean three more starts, and Mansolino said the Orioles are handling him conservatively.

Norfolk beat Memphis, 10-9.

Dylan Beavers hit two home runs. He has 16 and Samuel Basallo hit his 21^st, and Jud Fabian his 13^th.

In his first start since being acquired from Toronto in the trade for Seranthony Domínguez, Juaron Watts-Brown allowed five runs on six hits in four inning as Double-A Chesapeake lost to New Hampshire, 9-4.’

Shortstop Brandon Butterworth, who was acquired from San Diego in the trade for Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano, homered.

Designated hitter Ethan Anderson homered in High-A Aberdeen’s 3-2 loss to Bowling Green. The IronBirds were held to three hits.

In his first start for Single-A Delmarva, Esteban Mejia allowed three runs, two earned, in four innings as the Shorebirds lost to Kannapolis, 6-3.

What’s next? Cade Povich (2-5, 5.15) will come off the injured list to start Monday when the Orioles begin a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies have yet to name their starter.

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