Orioles minor league rundown 7/7: No-hit by the guy you traded

Norfolk Tides 4, Gwinnett (Braves) 1

Your favorite Norfolk starter and mine who wasn't on anyone's radar before this season, Michael Bowden, turned in another gem for the Tides. Who is that masked man and where did he come from? I don't know, but he pitched seven strong innings, giving up only one hit and no walks while striking out five against the Braves on Tuesdsay night. Lucky number sevens!

Eight of the nine Tides hitters registered hits in the game, including a three-hit effort by Dariel Alvarez, who hit his 13th home run of the season in the game. The 26-year-old Cuban is now batting .277/.301/.445 on the season. That just might work! Rey Navarro also homered in the game, and fellow Cuban Henry Urrutia had a multi-hit game out of the leadoff spot.

Akron (Indians) 10, Bowie Baysox 0

Rubber duckies may be the one to make bath time so much fun, but one thing they weren't on Tuesday night is good to the Baysox. Bowie got blasted by the Rubber Ducks with much of the damage coming late in the game against the Baysox bullpen, although Joe "The Gunk" Gunkel did allow four runs in five innings. Two of the nine hits he allowed in that time were home runs.

The two teams combined for five errors, three of which were committed by Bowie. Sounds like a sloppy one. That's Double-A for you. In his second relief outing since getting bounced to the bullpen, Tim Berry turned in a scoreless inning. Mike Yastrzemski had two of Bowie's five hits. There wasn't much else to get excited about in the game.

Frederick Keys 4, Wilmington (Royals) 3

Keys starter David Hess cruised through seven shutout innings, giving up only one hit and no walks. Hey, that sounds familiar. Hess struck out seven Blue Rocks and left with a 2-0 lead. He didn't end up factoring in the decision of the game because Jimmy Yacabonis got rocked for three runs, two earned, in only a third of an inning.

That came in the bottom of the eighth, meaning that the Keys needed a rally to prolong the game. They did better than just grab the one run. Pinch hitter Tanner Witt drove in two runs with a triple to put Frederick back on top, which allowed Cody Wheeler to close the door for his 13th save of the season.

Witt started this season out playing Independent ball; the Orioles signed him off of the Rockford Aviators. The 6'0" Kansas State product never got drafted. He's now 24, old for High-A, but hey, he's closer than he was. And in eight games for Frederick he's got a 1.263 OPS.

West Virginia (Pirates) 3, Delmarva Shorebirds 0 (6 innings - rain shortened)

What's worse than getting shut out by a former Orioles prospect who got traded away? That's easy - getting no hit by a former Orioles prospect who got traded away. Stephen Tarpley, part of the Travis Snider deal, turned in the rain-shortened no-hitter against his former organization. Maybe they would have gotten a hit if it had gone nine... maybe.

Aberdeen Ironbirds - OFF

Wednesday's Schedule

Norfolk: at Gwinnett, 6:35. Starter: Mike Wright

Bowie: vs. Akron, 7:05. Starter: Terry Doyle

Frederick: at Wilmington, 6:35. Starter: Ariel Miranda

Delmarva: at Hagerstown, 7:05. Starter: John Means

Aberdeen: vs. Staten Island, 7:05. Starter: TBD

For complete box scores for the O's affiliates from Tuesday, including a little check-in on a slew of 2015 Orioles draft picks who are playing for the GCL Orioles, check it out here.