Orioles minor league recap 5/2: Akin fans 12 in dominant outing

Norfolk Tides 7, Durham (Rays) 5

The Tides, after being held to one run in four innings by former Oriole castoff Vidal Nuno, busted out with a six-spot against Bulls relievers Austin Pruitt and Cody Hall. Joey Rickard, in his first game back with Norfolk after his weekend stint with the Orioles, delivered a game-tying two-run double in the fifth as part of his three-RBI day. Leadoff man Ruben Tejada had two hits and two RBIs as well.

On the mound, Tides starter Tim Melville was lucky to earn a win despite giving up five runs in six innings. The pitching stars were in the bullpen, where lefties Josh Edgin (two shutout innings) and Donnie Hart (scoreless ninth for the save) locked the game down in relief.

Bowie Baysox 7, Erie (Tigers) 3

Holy smokes, did Keegan Akin have an outing to remember for Bowie. The lefty dominated the SeaWolves for 12 strikeouts in six innings of work, the kind of performance not seen by the club in over a decade.

Radhames Liz is not a name I expected to be hearing today. In any case, Akin, the Orioles’ second-round pick in 2016, now has a 3.33 ERA and 31 strikeouts in his five starts this season.

Akin’s teammates gave him plenty of run support. Corban Joseph had another big day, falling a triple shy of the cycle and driving in two. Joseph is 5-for-8 with 13 total bases in his last two games and might be a better hitter than his brother Caleb right now, regardless of level. Elsewhere in the lineup, Austin Hays bashed his fourth homer and Ademar Rifaela his first.

Salem (Red Sox) 5, Frederick Keys 2

Alex Wells’ disappointing season at Frederick continued. The Orioles’ 2017 Minor League Pitcher of the Year hasn’t fared well in his first taste of High-A ball, falling to 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA after Salem tagged him for five runs in six innings in this game. Wells coughed up three home runs. Spring training surprise James Teague struck out the side in the ninth, but carries a 9.00 ERA this season.

At the plate, Jomar Reyes went 3-for-5 with an RBI. By the way, Salem’s starting pitcher was named Darwinzon Hernandez. Yes, “Darwinzon.”

Delmarva Shorebirds 7, Greenville (Red Sox) 1

The Shorebirds improved to 17-8 with an easy win over the Drive. If there were a Most Shorebirdland Player poll, it’d be split between Michael Baumann and Trevor Craport. Baumann pitched six shutout, two-hit innings for the win. The third-round pick in 2017 is now 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts. He’s also my birthday buddy! (Not the same year, of course. I’m old.)

Craport went off at the plate, blistering two home runs and a double and driving in three runs. The Shorebirds made the most of their eight hits, plating seven runs and stranding only two men on base all game.

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

Wednesday’s Scheduled Games

• Norfolk vs. Durham, 6:35 PM. Starter: Jimmy Yacabonis
• Bowie at Erie, 11:05 AM. Starter: TBD
• Frederick vs. Salem, 7:00 PM. Starter: Cristian Alvarado
• Delmarva vs. Greenville, 7:05 PM. Starter: Cameron Bishop