Orioles minor league recap 7/27: Norfolk wins doubleheader on two walk off homers

Norfolk Tides 2, Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 1 - Game 1

The Tides came back to win this game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a walk off home run from Luis Sardinas. That was after tying the game in the sixth on a balk, of all things. Scoring on that balk was new Tide Breyvic Valera, who had singled. Sardinas’s double was the only extra base hit of the six collected by the Tides. D.J. Stewart was the only Tide to reach base twice, via single and walk.

Lucas Long, Luis Gonzalez, and new member of the organization Cody Carroll combined to pitch a heck of a game for the Tides. Long gave up the only run of the game on an RBI triple that knocked in old friend Alejandro De Aza, who had walked. Gonzalez struck out three in 2.1 innings and Carroll pitched a perfect seventh to pick up the win.

Norfolk Tides 6, Syracuse Chiefs 5, F/13 - Game 2

Two walk offs in one day! As part of a doubleheader, this game was only supposed to go seven innings just as game one before it. But after seven innings the game was tied 0-0, so off to extras they went.

It was a bullpen game for the Tides in game two, with Sean Gilmartin and Eddie Gamboa combining to pitch the first seven. Each had four strikeouts. If you’re wondering how a game gets to the end of regulation with no score and then ends up with 11 runs scored combined, it’s because of the new extra innings rule in the minors where each team starts the inning with a runner on second base.

In each of the eighth, 10th, 11th, and 12th innings both teams scored one unearned run as the runner on second came in to score each time. Preposterous. It almost happened again in the 13th inning. The Chiefs did their part, but the Tides had other ideas. With Cedric Mullins starting the inning on second base, Valera hit an inside the park home run to win the game!

The Tides had 10 hits in the game, two each by Valera, Stewart, and Garabaz Rosa.

Bowie Baysox @ Harrisburg Senators (WAS) - PPD

Due to flooding at Harrisburg’s ballpark, both Thursday and Friday’s games have been postponed.

Frederick Keys 6, Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) 1

Michael Baumann pitched six shutout innings as the Keys swept the Dash in a three-game series. Baumann gave up four hits, all singles, and walked one. Nice game for the Orioles’ 18th ranked prospect.

The offense racked up 10 hits with only ninth hitter Daniel Fajardo going hitless. T.J. Nichting hit his 2nd home run of the year while Wilson Garcia and Jomar Reyes each had two doubles. Preston Palmeiro singled, walked, and scored twice.

Hagerstown Suns (WAS) 1, Delmarva Shorebirds 0 - Game 1

Another doubleheader! The Suns’ Gage Canning hit a solo home run in the first off of DL Hall, and that was pretty much all they did against him all night. Hall only pitched five inning but they were an impressive five innings. He allowed just two more base runners, one on a ground ball single and one on a walk. Of his 15 outs recorded he didn’t allow a single one in the air as he struck out nine and got six ground ball outs. His ERA is now 2.40.

Unfortunately that one run held up for the Suns. The Shorebirds had five hits in the game, all singles. Shortstop Cadyn Grenier went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Hagerstown Suns 5, Delmarva Shorebirds 3 - Game 2

Cameron Bishop started this game and he did not have as good of a time as DL Hall. He also pitched five innings, but gave up four runs on four hits. All four hits AND all four runs came in the fourth inning, capped off by a two-run home run. The other pitcher for Delmarva in this game was also named Cameron — Cameron Ming. Fun fact!

Mason McCoy and Kirvin Moesquit each had two hits in this game including a double. McCoy knocked in two of the team’s runs and Moesquit picked up the other. Grenier was 0-for-3.

Aberdeen Ironbirds 3, West Virginia Black Bears (PIT) 2

Starter Hector Guance was masterful in this game, pitching seven shutout innings with three hits and two walks. He only struck out two, but when you’re getting 12 ground outs to just three fly balls you can get away with that. Diogenes Almengo gave up two runs in the ninth but pushed through to get the save.

Leadoff hitter Robbie Thorburn, a 31st round pick in 2017, had two doubles and center fielder Nick Horvath had two hits and two RBI. Right fielder Robert Neustrom and shortstop Adam Hall both went 0-for-4.

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

Today’s Games

• Norfolk vs. Toledo, 7:05. Starter: Jimmy Yacabonis
• Bowie @ Harrisburg - POSTPONED
• Frederick @ Down East, 7:00. Starter: Matthias Dietz
• Delmarva @ Kannapolis, 7:05. Starter: TBD
• Aberdeen vs. Mahoning Valley, 7:05. Starter: TBD