Orioles minor league recap 7/19: The farm just got a lot more talented

Things are about to get real interesting in the Orioles minor league system. As you have heard by now, Manny Machado has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mark wrote up the details of the trade. Right now, this sucks, but this was a deal for the future. If you are into prospect rankings, MLB Pipeline has already updated their’s to reflect the trade. If you want to see these new guys in action anytime soon, Bowie is going to be the spot to check out.

Norfolk Tides 5, Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays) 4 F/10

D.J. Stewart registered his 19th double of the season in this game, and Andrew Susac added his sixth home run, a solo shot, in the sixth inning. Cedric Mullins, Luis Sardinas and Ruben Tejada added a single each. Susac and Garabez Rosa both had two-hit days.

Matt Wotherspoon started on the mound for the Tides and had to settle for a no decision after 5.1 innings and three runs (two earned) on seven hits, three strikeouts and no walks. Luis Gonzalez delivered 1.2 scoreless innings in his first career Triple-A appearance. Lucas Long, also making his Norfolk debut, first blew a save and then wound up with a win after allowing a run on three hits over two innings. Eddie Gamboa finished things up with a scoreless 10th inning.

Altoona Curve (Pirates) 5, Bowie Baysox 3

It was a weird game for Baysox starter Christian Binford. He threw all eight innings but allowed five runs on 10 hits, a walk and four strikeouts while throwing 99 pitches. Those must have been some quick at-bats!

Ryan Mountcastle smacked his 10th home run of the season, and Aderlin Rodriguez hit his 13th dong of the year; both were solo shots. Jaycob Brugman notched his first double with Bowie since his recent demotion. Anthony Santander went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Ryan McKenna had a single in four trips to the plate.

Frederick Keys 4, Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers) 2

Cristian Alvarado had a fine-looking start from a box score perspective: seven innings, two runs, seven hits, one walk, eight strikeouts. Matt Trowbridge and Tyler Erwin combined for two scoreless innings and five strikeouts to wrap up the Keys win.

Preston Palmeiro went deep for the 12th time this year. T.J. Nichting added his 16th double. Jomar Reyes led all hitters with three hits. Randolph Gassaway had an 0-for-3 game and one walk. Cole Billingsley, Wilson Garcia and Jake Ring each singled.

Game 1: Lowell Spinners (Red Sox) 3, Aberdeen IronBirds 1

The IronBirds lineup outhit the Spinners 4-3, but they were all singles. Adam Hall was responsible for two of the hits. Robbie Thornburn and Alexis Torres had the other two.

Matthew Hammonds tossed five innings and served up three runs on three hits, two walks and three strikeouts en route to a tough loss. Diogenes Almengo followed with a scoreless inning of work.

Game 2: Lowell 3, Aberdeen 2

Aberdeen got off to a hot start, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Unfortunately, that was all they could muster. Again, it all came off of one-base hits and some help from the Lowell defenders. Thornburn, Hall, Torres and Seamus Curran had one hit each. Jaylen Ferguson was the only player on either team with a multi-hit night.

It was a “bullpen game” for the IronBirds. Kevin Magee had two shutout innings. Joe Diaz gave up two runs on four hits and two strikeouts in two innings as well. Zach Matson technically didn’t allow any runs himself over two innings, but he entered the game with with a one-run lead, two runners on base, and allowed the game-tying run to score. Ryan Conroy was saddled with the loss when the Spinners walked off in the bottom of the seventh inning.

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

Thursday’s games

• Tides at Rochester (Twins), game 1, 5:05 p.m. Starter: LHP John Means (4-1, 3.36 ERA)
• Tides at Rochester, game 2, TBD, Starter: LHP Sean Gilmartin (4-2, 5.10 ERA)
• Baysox vs Erie (Tigers), 7:15 p.m. Starter: LHP Reid Love (2-4, 5.23 ERA)
• Keys vs Down East, 7 p.m. Starter: LHP Alex Wells (3-6 4.13 ERA)
• Shorebirds vs Greensboro, 7:05 p.m. Starter: LHP Cameron Bishop (8-4, 2.89 ERA)
• IronBirds at Lowell, 6:35 p.m. Starter: TBD