Orioles Minor League Rundown: 4/19/14

Durham (Rays) 2 Norfolk 1 (Final / 11 innings)

(RHP) Mike Wright tossed a gem of a game, going 7 innings and striking out 5 while allowing just 5 base runners via 4 hits and 1 walk. Unfortunately for him one of those hits was a solo home run, the first HR he's allowed this season. Doubly unfortunate for him was that his offense would fail to provide him with any run support until after his day was done. The 6'6", 24 year old righty from East Carolina is making a strong case to be the first name called upon should Baltimore be in need of an arm for a spot start. In his three starts this season he has gone a total of 17 IP and allowed just 3 ER, good for a 1.59 ERA (3.26 FIP). He has K'd 13 and walked just 4.

(RHPs) Brad Brach and Preston Guilmet each chalked up scoreless innings of relief before (RHP) Tim Alderson came on in the 10th. Alderson pitched a clean 10, save for a 1 out walk. But in the 11th his undoing would result from another walk, this one of the lead off variety. The runner would quickly move into scoring position by swiping 2nd. Alderson nearly managed to escape unscathed by striking out the next two batters. With two down now, the speedy Durham baserunner, Kevin Kiermaier, decided to steal 3rd as well, and he made it. A grounder to (SS) Alexi Casilla is beaten out by the batter for an infield single and the ultimately deciding run would score in the process.

As stated above, the offense came up lame; generating just 8 baserunners in 11 innings while striking out 16! times. (CF) Julio Borbon accounted as three of those baserunners via 2 hits and a walk. But he also erased himself once by getting thrown out attempting to steal 2nd.

Akron (Cleveland) 3 Bowie 1

Another good pitching performance undone by lackluster offense. (RHP) Matt Bischoff made a spot start for (LHP) Eduardo Rodriguez (who was sidelined by a knee injury per Steve Melewski) and pitched quite well. Bischoff went 5 innings and allowed just 1 ER while K'ing 6. Like Mike Wright, the one ER came via a solo HR. (LHP) Jason Gurka would come on in relief, and though he ultimately ate up 3 innings, he allowed 2 runs immediately upon entering in the 6th. A lead off HR and then an RBI single 3 batters later. That proved to be enough for the Rubber Ducks, as the Baysox offensive output was as poor as the Norfolk Tides'. (1B) Christian Walker did produce a 2-4 day which included his 2nd HR of the season. He is now slashing .299 / .304 / .448 over 16 games this season. (CF) Dariel Alvarez saw his 15 game hit streak halted, as he took an 0-4 on the day. (DH) Michael Ohlman would go 1-4, but he K'd thrice.

Carolina (Cleveland) Frederick: Postponed (Rain)

Delmarva 1 Greensboro (Marlins)2

What's this? Another superb effort from a starting pitcher wasted by offensive ineptitude? I'm shocked! (Not shocked). (RHP) Sebastian Vader used the Force over 7 innings to hold the Grasshoppers to just five hits and one run. That one run, of course, came via a solo HR. All sorts of shared themes going on among these three games. Over his three starts now, Vader has pitched 19 innings, allowing 6 ER (2.84 ERA / 3.25 FIP) while striking out 16 and walking just 3. He has allowed a HR in each of his starts though.

The Shorebird offense did actually produce a fair amount of baserunners. But those baserunners did not translate into runs scored. 10 hits, 4 walks, and 2 HBP should lead to more than just 1 run. But striking out a combined 15 times and going 1-10 with RISP will tend to put a damper on the offense. (OF) Gregory Lorenzo was 0-5 w/ 3 Ks from the lead off slot. (OF) Mike Yastrzemski returned to action and went 2-4 with a walk and a HR, but somewhat shockingly did not record an OF assist. (CF) Josh Hart went 1-1 with a walk before exiting due to a sprained ankle. Hector Veloz, who has normally always played 3B assumed duties in RF. He would go 1-3 with a double at the plate. The struggles of (1B) Trey Mancini continue, as he took an 0-6 w/ 3 Ks. Gotta be a Kangaroo Court fine of some sort for that.

Just two games today, as Kevin Gausman takes the hill for Norfolk and Parker Bridwell pitches for Frederick.