Orioles minors 9/1: A grand Norfolk debut for Sisco

Norfolk Tides 13, Charlotte (White Sox) 9

September 1 is a dark day in the Triple-A ranks. For those on the 40-man roster who aren’t summoned to the big leagues, well, that call probably ain’t coming this year. For those veterans and journeymen hanging around who aren’t on the 40-man roster, who were hoping all year for that call, well, that call probably ain’t coming either.

On the other hand, if you happen to be a catching prospect who spent the whole year at Double-A, like Chance Sisco, and you get promoted to Norfolk for the season’s waning days to replace Caleb Joseph - who did get the call-up - that’s pretty exciting for you. And Sisco, it must be said, made the most of it, going 2-5 in his Triple-A debut, including a grand slam. That’s good stuff.

It was a good day for the other position player prospects at Norfolk: 3-5 with two doubles for Trey Mancini, 2-5 with a home run for Christian Walker, 3-5 with a double, triple, and home run for Mike Yastrzemski.

Not so good of a day for T.J. McFarland (four runs in 1.2 innings) or for former Oriole Miguel Gonzalez, who was blasted for seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits in 4.1 innings.

Harrisburg (Walgreens) 8, Bowie Baysox 6

With Sisco being promoted off of this team, there’s basically no one left worth following. Starting pitcher David Hess gave up seven runs - “just” four earned - on 11 hits in 5.1 innings of work. The BABIP dragon does not seem to have been his friend.

Potomac (Walgreens) 3, Frederick Keys 1

Aderlin Rodriguez, who is 24 and in High-A, hit his 26th home run in 126 High-A games. Good job for him. Another old High-A performer, Yermin Mercedes, was 3-4 with two doubles. And actual prospect D.J. Stewart went 1-4 in the game. My favorite probably-non-prospect Jay Gonzalez stole two bases and has swiped 40 bags on the year.

On the pitching side, starting pitcher Jon Keller walked six batters in five innings but he only gave up one earned run (two unearned). Maryland’s own Ryan Meisinger struck out five batters in three innings of relief.

Delmarva Shorebirds 3, Greensboro (Marlins) 1

Delmarva pitchers combined to hold the Grasshoppers to just one hit in the game. Starting pitcher Reid Love notched another solid effort, going for seven innings with just one hit and one run allowed - on a home run. Love struck out seven batters.

Shortstop Ryan Mountcastle was 1-5 with a double. Baltimore’s own Alex Murphy was 1-3 with a double and also drew two walks in the game.

Aberdeen IronBirds 5, Brooklyn (Mets) 4

Another start, another impressive three innings from one of the Orioles’ top three picks this year. Lefty Keegan Akin gave up neither a hit nor a walk in his three innings of work, striking out four batters.

Center fielder Austin Hays continued his assault on the New York-Penn League, picking upa 3-4 night with a double. Also, Preston Palmeiro, son of Rafael, went 2-4 with a triple, and drove in two runs.

For complete box scores from these games, including the adventures of the GCL Orioles, check out here.

Today’s Scheduled Games

• Norfolk: at Charlotte, 7:05. Starter: Odrisamer Despaigne
• Bowie: at Akron, 6:05 (resume suspended + another game). Starter: Matthew Grimes
• Frederick: vs. Wilmington, 7:00. Starter: Lucas Long
• Delmarva: vs. Kannapolis, 7:05. Starter: Francisco Jimenez
• Aberdeen: vs. Brooklyn, 7:05. Starter: Matthias Dietz