Orioles minor league recap 6/21: Chris Tillman’s first rehab appearance did not go well

Indianapolis Indians (Pirates) 5, Norfolk Tides 3

Tim Beckham continued his rehab with a 1-for-4 performance as the Tides DH, notching a double in the process. Cedric Mullins had a double of his own in a 2-for-4 game. Drew Dosch and Garabez Rosa registered two singles each.

Asher Wojciechowski started on the hill and allowed just two earned runs over 5.2 innings of work, but a pair of errors (one from Wojciechowski, one by Renato Nunez) allowed three more runs to score in that time as well. Matt Wotherspoon, Andrew Faulkner and Donnie Hart combined for 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Game 1: Harrisburg Senators (Walgreens) 9, Bowie Baysox 4

Brian Gonzalez continued his struggles at Double-A. This time out to the mound, he gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits, five walks and two strikeouts in just 4.2 innings. Luis Ysla had a tough time out of the bullpen as well. Over the final 1.1 frames, the lefty surrendered four runs (two earned) on three hits, two walks and one strikeout.

You’ll notice that there were three unearned runs among those pitching lines. That’s because the Baysox made five fielding errors. Five! Let’s just say Ryan Mountcastle had an off day with the leather. The third baseman made three errors (two fielding, one throwing). A throwing error from Aderlin Rodriguez and a fielding miscue from Anderson Feliz rounded out the flubs for the game.

On the offensive side of things, Bowie racked up 11 hits. Colby Rasmus went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Mountcastle added a double. Anthony Santander singled. Feliz, D’Arby Myers and Ademar Rifaela had two hits apiece.

Game 2: Senators 8, Baysox 6

Harrisburg finished up the double-header sweep later in the day despite home runs from Rodriguez and Mountcastle. Santander had a two-hit, two-run game to lead the offense in both categories. Rodriguez led all players with three RBI.

Bowie deployed just two hurlers in this affair. Neither fared well. Michael Kelly started, but would last just four innings after serving up five runs on five hits, including two home runs, a walk and four strikeouts. Matthew Grimes came out of the bullpen to allow three runs on three hits, a walk and two strikeouts.

Tri-City ValleyCats (Astros) 11, Aberdeen IronBirds 5

Chris Tillman began his rehab against basically the easiest competition you can find in affiliated ball; short-season, low-A. Of course, he still struggled. In two innings, he gave up three runs (all earned) on two hits, two walks, a strikeout and two wild pitches. It’s one start, but this does not bode well for his comeback attempt.

Tillman was not the only IronBird to struggle. Victor Romero allowed four earned runs without getting an out. Jimmy Murphy gave up two runs in one inning of work. Nick Gruener tossed four frames and allowed just one run and struck out seven. Josh Keaton finished up with two scoreless innings.

Aberdeen’s lineup could muster just five hits while striking out 17 times. Robert Neustrom and Alexis Torres each drove in two runs and had a hit apiece. For Torres, the hit was his first home run of the season. Their fifth run was knocked in by Willy Yahn

Box scores for all of the O’s minor league teams

Thursday’s games

• Tides at Indianapolis, 7:05 p.m. Starter: RHP Jimmy Yacabonis (3-1, 2.79 ERA)
• Baysox at Harrisburg, 7 p.m. Starter: TBD
• Keys at Salem (Red Sox), 7:05 p.m. Starter: LHP Zac Lowther (2-0, 0.59 ERA)
• Shorebirds vs Kannapolis (White Sox), 7:05 p.m. Starter: TBD
• IronBirds at Staten Island (Yankees), 7 p.m. Starter: TBD