Orioles minors recap 5/12: Offense provides fireworks for Tides, Baysox, Shorebirds

Norfolk Tides 10, Gwinnett Stripers 3

The Tides won this game handily, maintaining a lead for the duration and finishing with 16 hits and 10 runs.

Right-fielder D.J. Stewart went 2-for-4 with a run, a walk, a strikeout and an RBI. On the season, Stewart is batting .271/.357/.406. Joey Rickard was 1-for-4 with a pair of walks, Andrew Susac had a home run and a pair of walks, and Alex Presley went 3-for-6 as the DH.

Tim Melville went deep into the ball game, throwing 108 pitches in eight innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and three walks to go along with 6 K’s. He has a sterling 5-0 record on the year and a 2.97 ERA. Lefty Josh Edgin pitched a scoreless ninth inning, leaving his ERA at 3.06.

Bowie Baysox 13, Hartford Yard Goats 0

The Baysox put on a hitting clinic versus the Yard Goats, scoring 13 runs on 15 hits. That includes scoring at least one run in every inning except for the first and the third. And guess what? Three Bowie pitchers combined to shut out Hartford. What an impressive performance all around.

Left-hander Keegan Akin continues to excel on the mound. He spun 6.2 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just four hits and one walk with six strikeouts. He improved to 4-3 with a 2.75 ERA.

In just his second game this season for Bowie, third baseman Ryan Mountcastle went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Austin Hays, batting second as the DH, went 2-for-5 to bring his season batting line up to .239/.280/.425. Left-fielder Ademar Rifaela was 2-for-4, leaving his triple slash line at .298/.333/.413. Unfortunately, Cedric Mullins could not get into the hit party, going 0-for-4. But he did have a walk, and his season batting line is .252/.300/.466.

Potomac Nationals 4, Frederick Keys 3

The Keys lost a close at home last night, with the Nationals scoring the go-ahead fourth run in the top of the eighth inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Frederick’s James Teague gave up a sacrifice fly to give Potomac the 4-3 lead and eventual win.

On offense for the Keys, left-fielder Randolph Gassaway went 0-for-3 with two walks and one run scored. For the year, he’s hitting .283/.404/.392 with one home run and 14 RBI. Coming into the game, Third baseman Jomar Reyes was batting .242/.263/.303 and he went 1-for-4 with one walk and one strikeout on the night.

Lefty Alex Wells got the start for the Keys, allowing three runs on 10 hits and three walks with one strikeout. Known for being a control artist (11.30 SO/W last year in 140 innings), Wells was uncharacteristically wild. He threw 87 pitches, including 55 strikes, in 4.2 innings.

Delmarva Shorebirds 9, Lexington Legends 2

The Shorebirds brought out the bats in a big way for this one, scoring nine runs on 11 hits and breaking the game open in the fifth with a five run inning. Delmarva’s pitching was on point too, starting with a strong outing from right-hander Brenan Hanifee and continuing with 3.1 scoreless innings from the bullpen.

The Shorebirds had three home runs against Lexington, courtesy of Kirvin Moesquit, Ben Breazeale, and Will Robertson. Center fielder T.J. Nichting was 3-for-5 with a double and two singles, and shortstop Mason McCoy was 3-for-5 with a triple and two singles.

Hanifee went 5.2 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, two walks and seven strikeouts. It was the first time this year Hanifee didn’t go at least six innings, but he still got the win. His record improved to 4-1 on the year, to go along with a 2.56 ERA.

Complete box scores for all Orioles affiliates available here.

Saturday’s Scheduled Games

Norfolk vs. Gwinnett, 6:05 PM ET. Starter: Asher Wojciechowski (1-1, 4.95 ERA)

Bowie vs. Hartford, 6:35 PM ET. Starter: Jayson Aquino (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Frederick vs. Potomac, 6:00 PM ET. Starter: Cristian Alvarado (4-2, 3.71 ERA)

Delmarva vs. Columbia, 6:05 PM ET. Starter: TBD