Orioles prospects 4/12: Early standouts continue to excel, Frederick collects 13 hits

Gwinnett Braves 8, Norfolk Tides 2

Gabriel Ynoa got the start for the Tides, tossing five innings. He allowed six hits and three earned runs, but didn’t allow a walk while striking out five. Out of the bullpen, Richard Bleier threw a pair of scoreless frames while Logan Verrett surrendered four hits and four runs to the Braves in the top of the ninth.

There wasn’t much to speak of in terms of offense for Norfolk on this night. 26-year-old David Washington hit a solo HR and a double — Robert Andino was the only other member of the lineup with a multi-hit game with a double and single.

Bowie Baysox 8, Erie Seawolves 6

Ryan Meisinger was the star pitcher in this one, good news for the continued development of the right-handed prospect. He tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless ball, not allowing a hit and striking out four. Brandon Barker got the start, allowing three runs in four innings.

Cedric Mullins continued his hitting streak with a double; both Anderlin Rodriguez and Garabez Rosa collected two hits. Bowie’s lone home run came via 2015 first-round pick D.J. Stewart, his second of the season.

Potomac Nationals 5, Frederick Keys 3

The Keys collected 13 hits in the losing effort, six coming from notable names — Alex Murphy (2-4, HR), Austin Hays (2-5, HR) and Jomar Reyes (2-4, 2B). Reyes is hitting .520 on the young season, while Hays continues his dominance as he climbs the ladder with a .357 mark through six games.

The most intriguing storyline of the afternoon can from last year’s second round pick Keegan Akin. The left-hander struck out 10 over five innings, walking none. He did allow 10 hits (not exactly ideal), but the walk-to-strikeout ratio is the one to watch. All three earned runs came via one swing in the fifth inning, making that column in the line a bit deceiving.

Delmarva Shorebirds 8, Greensboro Grasshoppers 2

There aren’t many on Delmarva’s roster this year who will be under the microscope, but this game’s starting pitcher Zack Muckenhirn (ranked 28th in the system by MLB.com) had a heck of a performance. He struck out eight over six innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits and walking none.

Muckenhirn is a notable left-handed arm who used his craftiness to work a 2.43 ERA in 12 games at Aberdeen last season. Keep an eye on him as the season rolls along.

Preston Palmeiro hit his first HR of the season, one that just happened to be a first-inning grand slam. In his first full season with the O’s system, outfielder Cole Billingsley went 2-5 with a triple and three RBI. SS Irving Ortega, ranked 23rd in the system, went 2-3 with a double and a base on balls.

Today’s games

Norfolk vs. Gwinnett, 12:05. Starter: Chris Lee (#7 prospect)

Bowie vs. Harrisburg, 6:35. Starter: John Means (#26 prospect)

Frederick vs. Carolina, 7:00. Starter: Cody Sedlock (#2 prospect)

Delmarva vs. Hagerstown, 7:05. Starter: Matthias Dietz (#13 prospect)