Around the minors - 5/31/13

Norfolk Tides 3, Buffalo Bisons 6

The rehabbing Tsuyoshi Wada was on the mound for the Tides tonight and he did not have much success. In just 4 2/3 innings he gave up 8 hits and 2 walks, leading to 6 runs (4 earned). He did not strike out a batter and a ground out to fly out ratio of 6:8. Mike Belfiore and Adam Russell pitched well in relief.

The Tides hitters scored 2 runs in 5 2/3 innings against Bisons starter Dave Bush. Buck Britton homered for one of the runs and the other came in on a Russ Canzler single to knock in Jason Pridie, who had walked. The Tides added a third run in the ninth inning thanks to a home run by Brandon Wood. He homered off of a guy named Josh Stilson, and for a moment I thought the Orioles traded Josh Stinson before the games started.

Wood went 2-for-4 on the day. The only other Tide with more than one hit was Zealous Wheeler, who singled twice. Recently demoted Yamaico Navarro was 0-for-3 with a walk. Taylor Teagarden started behind the plate for the Tides and went 1-for-4. I assume we'll see him back with Baltimore soon.

The Tides play at home tonight at 7:05 with the not-traded Josh Stinson on the mound.

Bowie Baysox 7, New Britain Rock Cats 6 (11)

The Baysox blew a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings before finally winning in the 11th on a Niuman Romero RBI double.

The Baysox put up four runs in the second inning thanks to doubles by Aaron Baker, Steve Bumbry, and Luis Martinez, along with a single by Ty Kelly and a walk to Bryan Ward.

Mike Wright started for the Baysox and pitched 5 innings giving up 4 runs (0 earned...thanks, Bowie defense) while striking out 5 and walking 0. Wright got the first two outs in the third before hitting a batter, then an error by Aaron Baker kept the inning alive (and made all subsequent runs unearned). Wright then gave up a two-run double and a two-run home run. Other than the 4th inning, Wright had a successful night.

The Baysox scored two more in the 7th inning to go ahead on a two-run home run by Brandon Waring. But Jason Gurka gave those two runs right back in the 9th. Gurka blew the lead by giving up a single and then two doubles. He came back in the 10th and gave up a single and walk but didn't give up any runs.

Ward drew his second walk of the night in the 11th inning and after a sac bunt by Ty Kelly, came in to score on a double by Romero. Zech Zinicola pitched a scoreless bottom of the inning (1 walk) to get the save.

Ty Kelly had three hits on the night, including a triple. Niuman Romero also had three hits (two doubles). In addition to his homer, Brandon Waring drew two walks, and Henry Urrutia had two singles.

Zach Clark and his 9.65 ERA will be on the mound for the Baysox tonight.

Frederick Keys 2, Wilmington Blue Rocks 1

Eduardo Rodriguez was on the mound for the Keys tonight and was very good. He pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up 1 run on 5 hits, all singles. He walked 3 and struck out 3. I know PBR me ASAP! was at the game so hopefully he'll have some insight for us on how Rodriguez looked in person.

The Keys scored solo runs in each of the first two innings. In the first, back-to-back singles by Jerome Pena and Sammie Starr set up an RBI ground out, and in the second Travis Adair was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a single by Starr.

Gene Escat and Zach Fowler followed Rodriguez in relief and each gave up just one single.

Sammie Starr had three hits on the night and Christian Walker was 2-for-4 with a double. Michael Ohlman had a single and a walk.

The Keys and Blue Rocks are back in action tonight with Tyler Wilson pitching for the Keys.

Delmarva Shorebirds 7, Greensboro Grasshoppers 6 (10)

Adrian Marin scored on a wild pitch in the 8th inning to send the game to extras and after the Grasshoppers scored a run in the top of the 10th, the Shorebirds came back with two in the bottom of the inning to get the win.

Josh Hader started for the Shorebirds and pitched 5 innings. He gave up 2 runs on 5 hits, but continues to walk a lot of batters. He had 4 walks to just 2 strikeouts. He's currently giving up walks at a rate of about 4.75 per nine.

Matt Hobgood's dominance did not continue tonight as he also walked 4 batters, although it took him just 2 innings to do so. He gave up 3 runs (1 earned) and struck out 1.

Lex Rutledge pitched the final three innings for the Shorebirds and gave up 1 run in the top of the 10th on just 1 hit and 2 walks. The Shorebirds walked a total of 10 in the game. Ouch.

The top of the lineup did a lot of damage for the Birds, with Lucas Herbst, Roderick Bernadina, Tucker Nathans, and Nik Balog each having multi-hit games. Balog had two doubles on the night. Adrian Marin added three hits including a double from the 8 spot in the lineup.

The Shorebirds play at home tonight, starting pitchers is TBD.