Orioles minor league recap 6/26: Norfolk sweeps a doubleheader, Frederick gets crushed

Norfolk Tides 4, Gwinnett Spinners (ATL) 1 - Game 1

In the first of two seven-inning games, the Tides topped the Spinners 4-1. Asher Wojciechowski started for the Tides and got through five innings with just one run allowed. That’s good, but with seven hits and three walks it was hardly a clean performance. Ryan Meisinger and Jhan Martinez each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

The Tides somehow scored four runs despite getting only four hits. And crazily enough, none of their four runs were scored on a hit! Steve Wilkerson was the king of productive outs with two sac flies in the game, giving him two RBI without a hit. Cedric Mullins picked up an RBI on a bases loaded walk; he was also hitless in the game. And a run scored on a throwing error by the Spinners’ pitcher.

That’s one way to do it, I guess.

Norfolk Tides 7, Gwinnett Spinners 4 - Game 2

Matt Wotherspoon got the spot start for the second game of the doubleheader and had a nice night. In four shutout innings he struck out seven with just two hits and one walk allowed. Relief pitcher Andrew Faulkner pitched a 1-2-3 fifth and then was pulled in the sixth without recording an out. He was ultimately charged with all four runs.

On offense, Cedric Mullins set the table from the leadoff spot with two singles and two runs scored. D.J. Stewart launched his eighth home run of the season, and catcher Chance Sisco was on base three times with a single, a double, and walk. New Tides’ DH Pedro Alvarez was 2-for-3 with a walk.

Sisco was 0-for-1 in stolen base chances, failing to nab former Oriole Xavier Avery in the only attempt in the game.

Akron RubberDucks (CLE) 12, Bowie Baysox 5

Brian Gonzalez is continuing to struggle at double-A after being promoted from Frederick in mid-May. In just three innings last night, he gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks. He threw 80 pitches in those three innings and his ERA is now at 8.16 in seven starts.

If you’re looking for good news from this game, look no further than third baseman Ryan Mountcastle. He went 3-for-4 with his seventh home run. Corban Joseph also homered in the game as part of a two-hit night. Ryan McKenna and Anthony Santander went a combined 0-for-9 at the top of the lineup.

Also, Akron’s catcher is named Sicnarf Loopstok, which is awesome.

Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) 19, Frederick Keys 2

Well, this wasn’t a very fun game for the Keys. This game was an almost respectable 10-2 going into the ninth when the Dash scored nine runs. Starting pitcher Lucas Humpal didn’t have a great night, going only 4.1 innings with three runs allowed, but he was quite successful if we’re grading on the curve. Isaac Silva, who gave up five runs in .2 innings at the end of the game, now has an ERA of 67.50. This was his first game this season, the poor guy.

Both Keys’ runs came on a two-run homer from Randolph Gassaway, his second of the year. Preston Palmeiro picked up a double. The Keys had five total hits in the game, no player had more than one.

Hagerstown Suns (WAS) 5, Delmarva Shorebirds 0

Chris Tillman made his second rehab start and it didn’t start off so well. In the first inning he gave up two runs on four hits, two of which were doubles. Our resident Delmarvian, duck, was at the game and said Tillman’s fastball was sitting at 86-87. He looked better after that, retiring seven of the next eight batters before being pulled with one out in the fourth.

After Max Knutson finished the fourth, usual starting pitcher DL Hall came in and pitched four innings. He gave up three runs but none were earned thanks to two errors by Trevor Craport. But he did give up a home run after one of the errors, which isn’t ideal.

The offense was quiet, getting just six hits in the game. Error maker Trevor Craport had a double and a triple, which is nice. Leadoff man Kirvin Moesquit was 2-for-4 with a double.

Aberdeen Ironbirds 5, Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK) 2

Starting pitcher Matthew Hammonds had a very nice night indeed, pitching six innings with just two hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. Diogenes Almengo picked up his second save.

Leadoff batter and last year’s 2nd round pick Adam Hall went 3-for-4 with a double and outfielder Robert Neustrom, who was taken in the 5th round of this year’s draft, hit the first home run of his professional baseball career. Congrats to him!

For more details on these games as well as the games of the Dominican Summer and Gulf Coast leagues, check out MiLB.com.

Today’s Games

• Norfolk vs. Gwinnett, 7:05. Starter: Jimmy Yacabonis
• Bowie vs. Akron, 7:05. Starter: Keegan Akin
• Frederick vs. Winston-Salem, 7:00. Starter: Zac Lowther
• Delmarva vs. Hagerstown, 7:05. Starter: Jhon Peluffo
• Aberdeen vs. Vermont, 7:06. Starter: TBD