Norfolk Tides 8, Durham (Rays) 5
The Tides picked up eight runs on nine hits, which is actually kind of impressive. They also walked seven times. Walks are good! Each of Trey Mancini and Christian Walker drew two of the walks. Walker also had a double.
Norfolk starter Joe “The Gunk” Gunkel had a nice night, giving up just two runs on six hits in six innings of work. Gunkel did not walk a batter and struck out eight. Don’t be fooled by his 8-9 record with Norfolk - he might have a shot to be a back end starter.
Bowie Baysox 5, Hartford (Rockies) 3
Five runs on five hits for the Baysox might be even more impressive - and they only drew three walks. Lucky for Bowie, one of their five hits was a three run home run hit by Chance Sisco. That was only Sisco’s third home run all season, but he’s batting .312 with an OBP over .400, so that doesn’t suck.
Less promising for Sisco is that he had four runners steal on him and did not throw out any batters. A whopping 120 runners have taken to try to steal on Sisco this season and Sisco has only thrown out 29. Sisco has thrown out only 24.1% of runners. That is not good and is something to keep in mind before just assuming Sisco can be the catcher next year.
Lynchburg (Indians) 7, Frederick Keys 4 (Game 1 - 7 innings)
Remember, a minor league doubleheader goes seven innings for regulation in each game. And, well, this first one didn’t go so well for the Keys. T.J. McFarland’s latest taste of High-A hitters went less poorly than the first one, but still not good. McFarland gave up two runs in two innings.
Not all was terrible, though, because last year’s first rounder, D.J. Stewart, turned in a 3-3 game, including a home run, his third in 41 High-A games. Stewart has taken to this level much better, and is now batting .282/.380/.437 at the level. Stewart even stole his fifth base with the Keys. A ways to go before MLB, but he’s making progress, and that’s something.
Frederick Keys 6, Lynchburg (Indians) 5 (Game 2 - 7 innings)
The Keys gave up three runs in the first, scored the next six, then had things get interesting in the ninth inning, but still came out on top. Third baseman Jomar Reyes, who went 1-3 in the game, committed two errors and now has 22 on the season.
Maryland’s own Ryan Meisinger pitched 3.1 scoreless innings after Keys starter Mitch Horacek got bounced from the game early on.
Delmarva Shorebirds 5, Greensboro (Marlins) 2 (10 innings)
The Shorebirds had 14 hits in the game, but it was the two home runs they hit in the tenth inning that really made the difference in the game. Baltimore’s own Alex Murphy did not hit one of those home runs, but he did have a 3-5 night, which is also fine to do.
Tri-City (Astros) 4, Aberdeen IronBirds 2
You’re not going to win very many games where you only get five hits, and sure enough, the IronBirds didn’t win. This year’s third rounder, Austin Hays, picked up two of the three hits and also drew a walk.
First round pick Cody Sedlock started the game and cleared three innings on just 37 pitches. Sedlock allowed one unearned run and just one hit while striking out three batters. He hasn’t been unleashed deep into a game yet, and probably won’t be before the season ends, but it’s been a nice debut for him.
For complete box scores from Thursday’s games, including the adventures of the GCL and DSL Orioles teams, check out here.
Today’s Scheduled Games
- Norfolk: at Durham, 7:05. Starter: Mike Wright
- Bowie: vs. Akron, 7:05. Starter: Jason Garcia
- Frederick: at Potomac, 7:05. Starter: Franderlin Romero
- Delmarva: vs. Lakewood, 7:05. Starter: TBD
- Aberdeen: at Tri-City, 7:05. Starter: Lucas Humpal