Orioles minor league rundown 4/17/2014

Norfolk 2, Durham Bulls 3

The Tides were held down by a random assortment of young Rays as well as the reliever formerly known as Leo Nunez. The gentlemen from Harbor Park managed only two hits and four walks over nine innings and were held hitless over the last three. David Adams doubled and Jemile Weeks walked twice.

Tough loss for T.J. McFarland. The former Rule 5 pick pitched 5.2 innings and struck out eight strong bulls. The Teej was also able to induce eight grounders, though an error by Jemile Weeks led to an unearned run.

Bowie 2, Erie Seawolves 3

If you're not rooting for Tim Berry, the former 50th round draft pick who is now a top pitching prospect for the Orioles, you have no soul. There were some questions at the outset of the season as to how Berry would handle the step up to AA, but thus far, he's answered the call. Akron's lineup features top rated positional prospects Francisco Lindor and Tyler Naquin, but Berry and the 'pen held them to an 0-7 line with one walk. Over six innings, Berry struck out three, walked two and uncorked a wild pitch, but held the RubberDucks to one earned runs nonetheless.

Christian Walker had a pair a pair of hits to extend his modest streak to six. Cuban defector Dariel Alvarez also smacked his 7th double of the young season. Fun fact: Alvarez and teammate Ronald Bermudez are 2nd and 3rd in the Eastern League in doubles.

Frederick 7, Winston-Salem Dash 3

It was fun night for the Keys offense as everybody except poor Creede Simpson got in on the hit parade. The Keys trailed 3-2 as late as the 5th inning, but a Michael Burgess homer kicked off a three run rally which also saw base knocks from Wynston Sawyer and Adrian Marin. The Keys iced the win with two more runs the next inning. Playing in his second game of the season, Lucas Herbst singled, tripled and scored a run.

In his third start of the season, Brady Wager allowed all three earned runs. Wager only walked one batter and struck out three, but got 10 groundball outs. Mark Blackmar picked up the save going three shutout innings to finish the game and help the Keys complete a three game sweep of the Dash.

Delmarva 3, Greensboro Grasshoppers 1

After all the action of yesterday's 15 inning prospect showdown, the next game was bound to disappoint by comparison, but the Shorebirds were happy to get the win anyways by holding the line after a two run second inning.

Drew Dosch doubled and singled to extend his on base streak to eight games. Josh Hart, Trey Mancini, Conor Bierfeldt and Hector Veloz went a combined 2-16.

Lefty Steven Brault was firing on all cylinders as he struck out nine in seven innings and also got seven Grasshoppers to ground out. Credit to Brault's batterymate Austin Wynns who threw out two of the three Greensboro baserunners that attempted to steal bases. Jon Keller allowed a run in the 9th, but picked his first professional save.

The Shorebirds are now even with the the Grasshoppers at 7-7, which is good for second in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division.