Orioles minors recap 5/16: Bad pitching rules the day

Indianapolis (Pirates) 10, Norfolk Tides 8

First off, does anyone find it confusing that the Indianapolis team is called the Indians but they’re an affiliate of the Pirates? An affiliate shouldn’t be allowed to have the same name as a different major league team. I’m going to write an angry letter.

Anyway, this game was ridiculous. The Tides held Indianapolis scoreless in eight of the nine innings...but in the second inning, they gave up a 10-spot that doomed them to defeat. The Indians sent 15 batters to the plate, starting their rally with four singles and two walks that chased an ineffective Chris Lee (1.2 innings, six hits, three walks). Then, second baseman Adrian Marin committed a costly error on what should’ve been the third out, setting the stage for six more runs, all unearned. Jhan Marinez and Joely Rodriguez combined to keep the Indians scoreless for the rest of the game — with Rodriguez pitching four shutout innings — but the damage was done.

The Tides’ offense nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback, scoring eight unanswered runs, but ultimately fell two short. Leadoff man Mike Yastrzemski, in his first game since being called up from Bowie, was a home run shy of the cycle. Third baseman Drew Dosch went 3-for-5 with two doubles and is hitting .329. Considering the Orioles’ gaping hole at third base right now, isn’t Dosch worth a big league audition?

Harrisburg (Nationals) 8, Bowie Baysox 2 (Game 1)

In the resumption of Monday’s game, which was suspended by rain in the third inning with the Baysox trailing, 6-0, each team scored two runs on Tuesday en route to an 8-2 final. John Means covered the entire six innings on Tuesday for the Baysox, giving up two runs, which should be considered a quality start even though it wasn’t technically a start.

Bowie, after being held to one hit in Monday’s first three innings, busted loose for nine hits in Tuesday’s six frames, but managed just two runs. Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins were a combined 0-for-7, while Anthony Santander and Ryan Mountcastle each had a single.

Harrisburg at Bowie Baysox (Game 2 — SUSPENDED; game tied 4-4 in the seventh)

So apparently it’s impossible for Bowie to actually finish a game the same day it starts. Just as Monday’s scheduled game didn’t conclude until Tuesday, Tuesday’s scheduled game was suspended by rain in the seventh and will conclude on Wednesday. Mountcastle was the Baysox hitting star of the first six innings, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Top prospect Hunter Harvey at least got his outing in before the rains came. He was great in even-numbered innings — throwing a perfect second and fourth, with three strikeouts — but struggled in the odds, allowing six baserunners and three runs. He now has a 4.22 ERA in six starts.

Lynchburg (Indians) 13, Frederick Keys 12

If you stayed up past midnight to follow this game, you witnessed a slugfest that featured 25 runs, 28 hits, and 14 walks. The game didn’t start until 8:45 because of rain (though fortunately it wasn’t in storm-pelted Frederick, where it would’ve been impossible to play at all), and once it did, nobody remembered how to pitch.

Keys starter Ofelky Peralta was a mess, issuing seven runs — and seven walks — in three innings, inflating his season ERA to 6.75. Lucas Humpal coughed up another six runs in relief, though only four were earned, thanks to errors by Jomar Reyes and Chris Clare in in the sixth. Reyes has 10 errors in 34 games this year.

The sloppy pitching and defense ruined a stout offensive attack by Frederick. Every Keys batter had a hit except Clare, and even he scored two runs. Preston Palmeiro and Wilson Garcia each doubled and had three hits, while Ryan McKenna scored three runs atop the lineup.

Columbia (Mets) 9, Delmarva Shorebirds 8 (10 innings)

In another high-scoring affair, the Shorebirds wound up on the wrong end of an extra-inning decision against the Fireflies. Delmarva held a 6-1 lead at one point, only for Columbia to battle back and tie it. The Shorebirds then got two in the top of the 10th, but the Fireflies scored three times off Reed Hayes in the bottom half to walk it off.

The new extra-inning rules certainly came into play, as both teams plated the free baserunner that was placed at second base to start the 10th inning. What I didn’t realize until now is that when the free runner scores, it’s considered an unearned run. I guess that makes sense — it’s not the pitcher’s fault that guy was on base, after all.

Zac Lowther returned to the mound for Delmarva after a two-week absence because of oblique tightness. Being eased back into things, he only pitched three innings, giving up one run, two hits, and three walks. At the plate, Seamus Curran bashed his seventh home run, while Ryan Ripken blasted his first as part of a 3-for-5 night.

Complete box scores from Tuesday’s games can be found here.

Wednesday’s scheduled games:

• Norfolk vs. Indianapolis, 6:35 PM. Starter: Yefry Ramirez (1-2, 4.54)
• Bowie vs. Harrisburg (Game 1— conclusion of Tuesday’s game), 11:05 AM.
• Bowie vs. Harrisburg (Game 2), 30 minutes after Game 1. Starter: Keegan Akin (4-3, 2.75)
• Frederick at Lynchburg, 6:30 PM. Starter: Alex Wells (0-3, 4.42)
• Delmarva: OFF