Rochester (Twins) 6, Norfolk Tides 2
With the Orioles shuffling relievers on almost a daily basis, one of the guys I’ve been rooting to get a shot is Joe “The Gunk” Gunkel, precisely the sort of back-end starter who is nonetheless a blank slate on whom to project hopes for an out-of-nowhere hot last month of the season when the Orioles need it most.
Unfortunately, he gave up six runs in seven innings in this game. Five of the six runs scored as the result of the four home runs Gunkel allowed. Well, better luck next time.
The Tides were only out-hit 9-8 in the game. They did not get any extra base hits. That will do it.
Binghamton (Mets) 6, Bowie Baysox 4
Any time you look at four errors in the box score, that’s something unsightly, although as it worked out, only one of the six Mets home runs was charged as unearned. The rest was just the usual stuff. Catcher Chance Sisco was not tested against any would-be base-stealers in the game, though he did commit one of the errors on a missed catch.
Five different Baysox batters had two hits in the game, including Sisco, recent minor league signee Chris Dickerson, and Henry Urrutia. Urrutia has responded to his Double-A exile by hitting .314/.345/.407 in 65 games.
Although it was a loss for Bowie, starter John Means doesn’t deserve the blame, giving up just one earned run (another unearned) on seven hits in six innings of work.
Frederick Keys 12, Winston-Salem (White Sox) 7
Seven runs in the eighth inning has got to be a painful one for the Dash to swallow, but that’s the way it went. The Keys surged back to overcome a tough start by Franderlin Romero, who gave up seven runs in five innings of the game, including three home runs.
If you get a little excited when Frederick scores a bunch, hoping that last year’s first rounder, D.J. Stewart, did something good, hey, me too. Sorry that we’re both disappointed though. He didn’t start the game and drew a walk in his lone appearance later on.
Delmarva Shorebirds 3, Hagerstown (Walgreens) 1
I never really know quite what to make of Brian Gonzalez, the top 2014 O’s pick (third round, but still) - he’s still young but is repeating Delmarva. Things are going much better the second time around, including this game, where Gonzalez, a 6’3” lefty, held the Suns to a run on two hits and two walks in six innings.
That puts his season ERA at 2.51 in 139.2 innings. Does it make him much of a prospect? Who knows! But they can test him out at Frederick next season and see what happens.
Staten Island (Yankees) 4, Aberdeen IronBirds 0
One positive thing to say about this game is that outfielder Austin Hays, this year’s third round pick, went hit a double in three at-bats and also drew a walk. Confession: Sometimes there’s nothing interesting to say about a minor league game.
For complete box scores from Thursday’s games, including the adventures of the GCL Orioles (but not the DSL Orioles, they both got postponed), check out here.
Today’s Scheduled Games
- Norfolk: vs. Charlotte, 7:05. Starter: Andy Oliver
- Bowie: vs. Binghamton, 7:05. Starter: Brandon Barker
- Frederick: at Salem, 7:05. Starter: Lucas Long
- Delmarva: vs. Lexington, 7:05. Starter: Ofelky Peralta
- Aberdeen: vs. Hudson Valley, 7:05. Starter: TBD