Orioles Minor League Rundown: 5/17/14

Charlotte (White Sox) 6 Norfolk 7 (13 innings)

(1B) Brett Wallace had already had a good night at the plate when he was slated to lead off the bottom of the 13th inning. He had 3 hits and a walk in 5 plate appearances up to that point. A walk-off HR then served as a fitting end for Wallace's night. 4 for 5 with a walk and 4 runs scored. The 27 year old former highly regarded prospect has hit .444 / .512 / .722 over his last 10 games. On the season, he is hitting RHP to the tune of .302 / .368 / .464. He could prove himself to be a valuable platoon bat for the O's at some point this season.

(2B) Jemile Weeks reached base twice via singles...and was erased from the basepaths twice via caught stealings. oof. ( C ) Brian Ward went 1-3, with a walk and 2 RsBI at the plate. But the defensive touted catcher committed two errors on one play in the 9th inning that allowed the game to become tied up. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and none out the batter dribbled a ground ball to (3B) Buck Britton, who threw home as the runner from 3rd broke. The ball got away from Ward, who then compounded the problem by throwing the ball into center field as he attempted to throw out the batter attempting to advance to 2nd. The second runner then trotted home with the tying run. blah.

(LHP) T.J. McFarland started the game and was effective over his 5.2 IP. He allowed 3 ERs via 4 hits and a walk while striking out 6. He did hit two batters. And though he did erase one of those HBPs from the bases by inducing a GIDP, the other would eventually managed to score via a McFarland balk. (RHP) Preston Guilmet came on in the 8th inning with the tying run at 1st and 1 out. He snuffed the threat by inducing the batter to GIDP. But things went pear-shaped for him in the 9th as he allowed a lead off single followed by a double to set up the above described events involving Brian Ward. Every member of the Tides' bullpen save for (LHP) Nick Additon now has an ERA over 5. holy moly.

Bowie 1 Reading (Phillies) 2

This was either a hard-fought pitcher's duel or a case of both offenses being inept. Not certain which. Each starter came into this game with ERAs in the vicinity of 5, and each one managed to go 6 innings while allowing just 1 ER. Making his 3rd start for Bowie, (LHP) Anthony Vasquez has now sandwiched 6 IP Quality Starts around a dreadful 2nd outing. In this game he allowed 6 hits and 2 walks while K'ing 7. The damage came via a 2 out solo HR in the 1st and a RBI single in the 3rd. Though an error allowed the runner to reach in the first place, Vasquez allowed consecutive singles to plate the runner.

And that proved to be enough for the squad from Reading, as the Bowie offense was unable to generate any offense beyond  back-to-back first inning doubles from (3B) Niuman Romero and (1B) Christian Walker. The notice garnering Walker would finish the night 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 Ks. (CF) Dariel Alvarez took and 0 for 4 night with 1 K. ( C ) Michael Ohlman singled once in his 3 trips to the plate. He now has a modest 6 game hitting streak and has gotten his AVG over the Mendoza line. He also potentially prevented additional damage from occurring in the 3rd inning as he threw out the lead off batter attempting to steal 2nd before the error and back-to-back singles happened.

Frederick 5 Winston-Salem (White Sox) 1

(RHP) Gene Escat earned himself a spot start after having allowed just 4 ER over his 18.1 innings of relief work so far this season. He went 4 scoreless innings in his first start since he's been in the O's organization, allowing just 2 hits and a walk while striking out 5. That'll get some positive attention. The 23 year old now sports a 1.61 ERA on the season with 27 Ks to 10 BBs and just 11 hits allowed over his 22.1 innings of work.

(CF) Glynn Davis knocked a double, drew a walk, and stole his 9th base in 11 tries this season. His slash line on the season stands at .342 / .408 / .467. Get this kid a ticket to Bowie. The big stick of the night was swung by (2B) Tucker Nathans, as he went 4 for 4 with a double and 3 RsBI.

Delmarva 11 West Virginia (Pirates) 4

22 year old (LHP) Luis Gonzalez came to the O's last season after spending 3 seasons in the lower rungs of the Phillies system. I'm not certain how the O's acquired him, whether via a trade I am forgetting or just as a minor league free agent. Over 13.1 innings with the 2013 Dominican Summer League O's he recorded 23 Ks to 4 walks allowed. He made his first Low-A start last night, going 4 inning of hitless and scoreless pitching. He K'd 5, but walked 4 while inducing 4 ground outs to 2 fly outs. Color me suitably intrigued. As if Delmarva needed another reason to draw attention...They are certainly the most interesting squad in the O's organization at the moment.

(RHP) Jon Keller continues to make his case for a promotion to Frederick. He worked 3 innings of relief, allowing 2 hits, a walk, and 1 ER while striking out 3. The 6'5" 21 year old now has 32 Ks to 5 BBs over his 24 IP on the season, with a 2.25 ERA.

The Shorebirds offense pounded Baby Bucco pitching to the tune of 10 hits while drawing 7 walks. (RF) Mike Yastrzemski blasted his 4th HR of the season, and ( C ) Chance Sisco bopped his 1st. (CF) Josh Hart was held hitless in 3 at bats but did draw 2 BBs.

You can peruse all of the day's boxscores at your leisure via this handy link.

Today's Probables are as such:

Norfolk: (RHP) Eddie Gamboa (available on MiLB.tv)

Bowie: (RHP) Tyler Wilson (available on MiLB.tv)

Frederick: (RHP) Branden Kline (available on MiLB.tv)

Delmarva: (RHP) Hunter Harvey (not available on MiLB.tv) :-(