Orioles minor league recap 7/20: Norfolk sweeps the doubleheader

Norfolk Tides 1, Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 0 - Game 1

My player of the game for this close contest has to be starting pitcher John Means. Means pitched a complete game shutout for the Tides, which is impressive even when the game is only seven innings long. He gave up three hits, all singles, struck out six, and didn’t walk a single batter. Means has been on a roll of late and his ERA is now just 3.01. Might we see him in Baltimore this year?

The offense mustered only four hits and managed to scratch across one run. Back-to-back singles in the second inning by Chance Sisco and Garabez Rosa set the table for Drew Dosch, who got the game’s only RBI with a sacrifice fly. The other two hits in the game were singles by Dosch and Mike Yastrzemski.

There were two stolen base attempts against Sisco, with one caught.

Norfolk Tides 1, Rochester Red Wings 0 (F/8) - Game 2

That’s right, the Tides scored just two runs last night and won two games! Very efficient. A trio of bullpen arms pitched the eight-inning game. Sean Gilmartin, appearing in just his third game as a Tide, pitched three innings. Francisco Jimenez pitched four and Andrew Faulkner finished up the game with one inning to get the win.

The only run of the game scored in the eighth inning, which in a doubleheader is an extra inning. Because of the weird extra inning rules in the minors, Adrian Marin started the inning on second base and ultimately scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Susac. Susac also had the game’s only extra base hit, a double. Cedric Mullins and D.J. Stewart each had one hit and one intentional walk.

Erie SeaWolves (DET) 7, Bowie Baysox 3

Starting pitcher Reid Love had a night to forget. A typical relief pitcher this season, Love made his third start of the year last night and didn’t get out of the second inning. In the first, he gave up five runs on six hits, a walk, and a sacrifice fly. One guy even stole home! It was not pretty. Love started the second inning but was pulled with two outs and another run in.

The Baysox offense racked up 11 hits but only managed three runs. Team Ryan (that would be Mountcastle and McKenna) each had one single, with McKenna also getting a walk. It was a big night for Corban Joseph who went 3-for-5.

Frederick Keys 7, Down East Wood Ducks (TEX) 2

The Keys jumped on Down East starter Joe Palumbo for four runs in the very first inning when they fell an RBI triple short of the RBI cycle. Randolph Gassaway had an RBI single, Wilson Garcia had an RBI double, and Preston Palmeiro hit a two-run homer.

Those four first-inning runs were more than enough for Alex Wells, fresh off his appearance in the Futures Game. Wells pitched into the sixth inning, allowing just one run on a solo homer in the second inning. His final pitching line was 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

Greensboro Grasshoppers (MIA) 1, Delmarva Shorebirds 0

Spot starter Scott Burke had himself a night for the Shorebirds. Making his fourth start of the season out of 23 appearances overall, Burke pitched five innings with just four hits and one run allowed. He struck out six! Well done, Scottie.

None of that matters much when the offense has just three hits, all singles. Some good news is that 2018 second pick Cadyn Grenier reached base twice by single and walk. The other hits came from Ryan Ripken and Will Robertson.

Lowell Spinners (BOS) 13, Aberdeen Ironbirds 7

It was a tough night to be an Ironbirds pitcher. The team used six pitchers in eight innings and only Brandon Bonilla got out without giving up a run. Notable blowups were from Josh Keaton, last year’s 10th round pick, and J.J. Montgomery, this year’s seventh round pick. Keaton gave up four runs in just 1.2 innings while Montgomery issued three walks in one-third of an inning, all of which came in to score after he left the game.

The offense, on the other hand, had a pretty good day. The team had 12 hits with two from last year’s second round pick Adam Hall. Hall went 2-for-5 with a double and a triple. Cody Roberts, who was drafted this year in the 11th round, picked up two hits and three RBI. Dalton Hoiles, son of Chris, went 1-for-4.

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

Today’s Games

• Norfolk @ Rochester, 6:05. Starter: Lucas Long
• Bowie vs. Eric, 7:05. Starter: Keegan Akin
• Frederick vs. Down East, 7:00. Starter: Michael Baumann
• Delmarva vs. Greensboro, 7:05. Starter: Cameron Bishop
• Aberdeen vs. Connecticut, 7:05. Starter: TBD