Norfolk Tides 5, Toledo (Tigers) 4
Steve Clevenger drove in a run in the eighth inning to tie the game at 3-3 and ultimately send the game into extras. Things got wild from there, with a Jefry Marte home run off Pedro Beato priming the Mud Hens for victory. A lot like the big league club on Friday night, the Tides grabbed back the run within two batters. Christian Walker drove in Rey Navarro with a double, and after the bases were loaded by walks, Michael Almanzar hit into a walkoff fielder's choice. Not the most exciting conclusion, but a win is a win.
Clevenger had three of the Tides' ten hits. Henry Urrutia and Walker also had multi-hit games. Rehabbing Wesley Wright tossed a scoreless inning, as did the Admiral, Oliver Drake. Jorge Rondon, who's on the 40-man roster, tossed two scoreless innings as well.
At 42-32, the Tides are one game behind the Charlotte Knights for the lead in the South division of the International League.
Bowie Baysox 4, New Britain (Rockies) 1
When you get your starting picture going seven innings and striking out nine batters, that's probably going to be a good night. That was the kind of outing that Terry Doyle delivered for the Baysox on Friday, putting them in a great position to win with just a little bit of offense. Mychal Givens, fresh off his time in Baltimore, closed down the Rock Cats with two scoreless innings for his 13th save of the season.
The Baysox got that offense in part from a two-run home run hit by once (and future?) Oriole Brandon Snyder. Shortstop Ozzie Martinez had a two hit game and scored two of Bowie's four runs. Garabez Rosa, who was in center field, turned in a 3-3 performance. My main man Trey Mancini, recently named the Eastern League Player of the Week, had the night off.
Salem (Red Sox) 11, Frederick Keys 1
Eleven runs on eleven hits is impressive efficiency for the Red Sox affiliate. Of course, they were helped to that by Keys pitchers issuing ten walks. Yikes. That's a rough day for everybody involved. Chance Sisco turned in a 2-3 night that included a triple and a walk. His slash line for Frederick now sits at .280/.357/.390 in 31 games played.
Delmarva Shorebirds 5, Hagerstown (Walgreens) 2
The Shorebirds jumped all over former Washington prospect Matt Purke for five runs in the first inning. Purke did not finish the inning. They only ended up with six hits all game, five of which came in that first inning, so it's a good thing they got all those runs.
Staked to that lead, Delmarva starter Matthew Grimes mostly cruised through six innings of work, giving up a run on five hits and two walks. Grimes struck out five Suns batters. Garrett Cortright grabbed his fifth save of the year for the Shorebirds, striking out three Suns batters in the final 1.1 innings.
Lowell (Red Sox) 7, Aberdeen Ironbirds 2
Tough beginning to the season for the O's New York-Penn League affiliate. They're now 2-6. Ironbirds starter Francisco Jimenez did OK, giving up three runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. It was after he left the game that things fell apart a bit.
Saturday's Probable Pitchers
Norfolk: Mike Wright
Bowie: Elih Villanueva
Frederick: David Hess
Delmarva: John Means
Aberdeen: TBD
If you'd like complete box scores from the Orioles affiliates, including the Gulf Coast League debut of 2015 compensation round pick Ryan Mountcastle, check them out here.