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Norfolk 0, Durham (Rays) 6
Christian Walker ended a disappointing (at least in relation to '14) season with a 1-for-4 night and two Ks. He struggled mightily through May before a sweltering June (.890 OPS) brought some of his numbers back up to respectability, though he still hadn't shown much in the way of power (just four HR to that point). The power came on in July with a seven-dinger outburst, but his other numbers regressed heavily in response, and that trend carried into August as well. All said, it added up to a .257/.324/.423 line with 18 HRs and a 51:136 BB:K ratio.
Bowie 3, Erie (Tigers) 8
Like Walker in '14, Trey Mancini blow'd up and gave O's fans something to dream on for a post-Chris Davis world. He crushed in Frederick for two months before getting promoted to Bowie, where he went and crushed even more. On this night he went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI on the night. He finished '15 with a spectacular .341/.375/.563 line, including 43 doubles, 6 triples, 21 HRs, and a 33:93 BB:K ratio. Good-googley-moogley! He's a lock to be Minor League Player of the Year for the O's.
Chance Sisco took an 0-for-4, while Mike Yaz went 1-for-5, threw a runner out at 1B, but also missed a catch in RF. Sometime you eat the bear, and, well...sometimes the bear eats you.
Winston-Salem (White Sox) 9, Frederick 2
LHP Mitch Horacek was set aflame to the tune of 7 runs (6 earned) over 3+ innings of work. Dylan Rheault and Josh Walker cleaned up, each allowing a run over 3 IP. Dariel Alvarez was lifted in the 4th after drawing a walk. Not sure why, but he can rejoin the O's now that they are south of the Wall and out of Wildling country, er...back in the States.
Delmarva 3, Lakewood (Phillies) 12
As bad as Mr. Horacek had it, Nigel Nootbaar had it, well...I'll just let the results speak for themselves: 0.1 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 4 BBs, 6 ER. That'll sting one's bottom. Aside from Jomar Reyes, SS Stephen Wilkerson had a very good season for the Shorebirds. He ended the season with a 1-4 effort, including a SF. On the year the 23 year old posted a .287/.376/.371 line. Not too shabby.
Aberdeen 1, Hudson Valley (Rays) 7
Just two baserunners for the Ironbirds in this one. Alex Murphy hit a solo HR and Alejandro Juvier hit a single. And that was that. Garrett Cleavinger's season came to an end on a crap note, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) over 0.2 innings.
Playoff Baseball
Baseball season is over for the Ironbirds, Shorebirds, and Keys, but both the Baysox and Tides are playoff bound! The Baysox won their division with a 79-63 record and will face the second-place Altoona Curve (PIT) starting Wednesday in Altoona. They will play games three, four, and five (if necessary) of the five-game series at home starting Friday the 11th.
The Tides also finished in first in their division with a 78-66 record. Their playoff journey begins on Wednesday at home vs the Columbus Clippers (CLE). They'll play the first two games in Norfolk, and the rest of the series on the road.