Louisville (Reds) 9, Norfolk Tides 0
Odrisamer Despaigne was bad, giving up five runs (four earned) in only 4.2 innings of work. That was on eight hits and two walks, and Despaigne recorded no strikeouts. Newcomer Scott McGough struggled as well, allowing three runs in 2.1 innings of relief.
Tides hitters? Also bad, combining for only five hits between the lot of them. None were for extra bases. That said, they had their chances to score, they just did nothing with them, going 0-8 with runners in scoring position. Christian Walker and Xavier Avery each turned in a 1-3 day with a walk.
Harrisburg (Walgreens) 6, Bowie Baysox 3
Starting pitcher Jason Garcia showed that he would fit perfectly in the big league rotation with his outing in this game, though with the way the O's rotation is pitching, this is not a compliment. The Baysox were left in a hole as Garcia gave up six runs in four innings of work, allowing eight hits and walking four of the 21 batters he faced. That's, uh... it's not good. Baysox pitchers walked ten batters in all. Sheesh.
Awesome dude Trey Mancini took an 0-5 in the game. Can't win them all. Other awesome dude Chance Sisco had a 2-4 game with a double. Sisco's now got his batting average over .300 on the young season and is sporting an on-base percentage of .444. Get this guy into the Orioles lineup next season... or sooner.
Corban Joseph, brother of Caleb, had a four hit game, and Drew Dosch and Mike Yastrzemski also both collected multi-hit games.
Frederick Keys 5, Lynchburg (Indians) 2
The Keys picked up 12 hits in this game, including two home runs that accounted for three of their five runs. Most all of those contributions were made by players who aren't really packed onto prospect lists.
With Jomar Reyes out of the lineup, the most interesting name in there was Jonah Heim, who went 0-3 and drew a walk. Heim also threw out the lone Hillcats runner who attempted to steal on him.
Frederick got a strong start from its starter, John Means, who struck out six batters over six innings while only walking one. Lynchburg got to him for two runs on six hits. That'll work. In relief of Means, fireballing lefty Tanner Scott walked a batter in an inning of work. That's progress for him.
Delmarva Shorebirds 13, Kannapolis (White Sox) 2
This one was closer than it looked for most of the game, but the Shorebirds blew it open late, picking up six runs in the eighth inning and two in the ninth to make it a real laugher.
When you get 18 hits, you figure that a lot of people had good games, and they did. One of these was last year's first rounder D.J. Stewart, who picked up a 3-4 game with a double, and he also walked twice. Let's hope it's an encouraging step and a sign he's improving, rather than Kannapolis pulling off the Low-A equivalent of when the O's let Ryan Goins have a 5-5 game. Stewart raised his average from .191 to .235 just in this game.
Others featured as well. Early season sensation Yermin Mercedes ripped off a 3-5 game with five runs driven in. Baltimore's own Alex Murphy had two hits including his second home run of the season. Everyone got a hit except for Ryan Mountcastle and even he drew two walks.
Today's Scheduled Games
Norfolk: vs. Louisville, 6:35. Starter. Nick Additon
Bowie: vs. Richmond, 6:35. Starter: Jayson Aquino
Frederick: OFF
Delmarva: OFF
For complete box scores from yesterday's games, check out here.