Orioles minors recap 6/27: Akin suffers groin tightness

Norfolk Tides 3, Gwinnett Stripers (Braves) 2

I did a double-take when I saw the name of Gwinnett’s team, thinking they were called the Strippers. That would dramatically change the complexion of the team. Anyway, the Stripers were held in check by three Norfolk pitchers. Joely Rodriguez, who was forced into a spot start after scheduled hurler Jimmy Yacabonis was scratched (to apparently start for the Orioles on Thursday), filled in quite nicely. Rodriguez allowed just one run in four innings. Reid Love then duplicated that performance — four innings, one run — before Ryan Meisinger worked a scoreless ninth for his first save.

Steve Wilkerson, back in Norfolk after his brief stint with the Orioles, returned in style with a home run and a double. Another recently demoted Oriole, Pedro Alvarez, drove in two runs with a sixth-inning double. D.J. Stewart went 1-for-3 with a double, while Cedric Mullins was 0-for-4.

Bowie Baysox 8, Akron Rubber Ducks (Indians) 4

The big news here is that Keegan Akin, who’s having a breakout season for the Baysox and may well be the Orioles’ best pitching prospect, had to leave the game early with groin tightness. Let’s hope it’s not a serious injury, because Orioles fans have already suffered quite enough this season, thank you very much. Before he left, Akin threw four innings and issued an ugly six walks. Perhaps the control problems stem back to the groin injury.

This was a fairly close game until the seventh, when the Baysox put it away with a four-run rally. Audry Perez led off the inning with a home run — his second of the game — and then the Rubber Ducks handed Bowie three runs on a wild pitch and an error. Aderlin Rodriguez also homered for the Baysox, while Ryan Mountcastle drew two walks and scored twice.

Frederick Keys 3, Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox) 2 (10 innings)

The Keys went extras to race past the Dash, as Preston Palmeiro’s walkoff single brought home the free baserunner that started the inning at second base. The Keys had tied the game in the seventh on a squeeze bunt by Cole Billingsley. Chris Clare added a homer for Frederick.

Any time Zac Lowther gets the start for the Keys, it’s usually going to be a good day. Indeed, Lowther pitched well again, holding the Dash to one run while striking out six. He labored a bit, though, throwing 90 pitches in five innings. That’s sort of a nitpicky complaint, I’ll admit. It’s hard to find much to criticize for a guy with a 0.96 ERA in 11 starts this season split between Delmarva and Frederick.

Delmarva Shorebirds 11, Hagerstown Suns (Nationals) 3

Delmarva’s offense exploded in this one, led by Zach Jarrett, who had two triples (!) and drove in four runs. Trevor Craport had three RBIs, and Mason McCoy had a triple of his own. It was a triples parade in Delmarva tonight, apparently.

Jhon Peluffo delivered a quality start — six innings, three runs — that lowered his ERA to an even 9.00 for the season. Reed Hayes picked up his fifth save, this one of the three-inning variety.

Vermont Lake Monsters (Athletics) 9, Aberdeen Ironbirds 3

The Ironbirds failed to complete the Orioles’ farm system sweep, getting swallowed up by the Lake Monsters. Starter Hector Guance was ripped for seven runs (six earned) in 2.1 innings, walking five in the process.

No Aberdeen batter had more than one hit, and none were for extra bases. 2017 second-round pick Adam Hall and 2018 fifth-rounder Robert Neustrom each went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Complete box scores can be found here.

Wednesday’s scheduled games:

• Norfolk vs. Gwinnett, 12:05 PM. Starter: John Means (3-1, 3.79)
• Bowie vs. Akron, 7:05 PM. Starter: Lucas Long (1-8, 5.43)
• Frederick vs. Winston-Salem, 7:00 PM. Starter: Cristian Alvarado (6-5, 3.92)
• Delmarva at Greensboro, 7:00 PM. Starter: Cameron Bishop (6-4, 3.38)
• Aberdeen: OFF