Behind Keegan Akin's strong first start, Orioles beat Blue Jays, 4-3, in 11 innings to end five-game skid
Orioles pitching prospect Keegan Akin’s first big league start was a long time coming. So too were the crucial hits in the 11th inning that allowed the Orioles to turn his big day into a 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays to avoid a series sweep and halt their losing streak at five games.
José Iglesias and Bryan Holaday, a pair of veterans on a club that’s getting younger by the day after three trades in the past two days, each had run-scoring doubles in the 11th to give the Orioles (15-19) their first win on this six-game road trip.
The Orioles made the final out of the 10th inning at home after Mason Williams tried to score on a fly ball to right field by Anthony Santander, though the Blue Jays’ scoreless 10th might have been more frustrating.
Joe Panik started on second base and was on third with one out when the Orioles pulled left fielder Ryan Mountcastle in as a fifth infielder. It worked, as Cesar Valdez got a pair of ground balls to get out of the inning.
