Orioles minor league recap 7/30: Frederick sweeps behind Zac Lowther

Toledo (Tigers) 3, Norfolk Tides 0

It was a rough day offensively for the Tides, who managed only five hits. They did load the bases in the eighth inning but Cedric Mullins flew out to the warning track, barely missing a go-ahead grand slam. Pedro Alvarez, Garabez Rosa, Luis Sardinas, and Adrian Marin collected Norfolk’s base hits.

Matt Wotherspoon got the spot start for the Tides and threw five innings of one-hit ball. He was relieved by Luis Gonzalez, who allowed a run and was charged with the loss. Four of the seven outs Gonzalez recorded were strikeouts.

Norfolk dropped the rubber game of this series, which is unfortunate as they try to chase down the first place Durham Bulls in the International League South standings.

Eastern League Game 1- Harrisburg (Nationals) 5, Bowie Baysox 4 in 7 innings

Dillon Tate made his debut in the Orioles organization yesterday and it didn’t go well. He pitched 5.1 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) and took the loss. Control wasn’t a problem, as Tate only walked one batter. But he did allow eight hits and threw 86 pitches. Tate put the Baysox in a 5-0 hole that they couldn't quite rally out of.

Yusniel Diaz hit his first home run since being acquired for Manny Machado. His average since the trade is now .111 so we can hope this gets him going. Bowie’s other three runs came on a bases clearing double by Martin Cervenka to pull the Baysox within one run in the seventh. He was stranded at second when the game ended.

Ryan McKenna went 1-4 while Ryan Mountcastle and Rylan Bannon went a combined 0-6.

Eastern League Game 2- Harrisburg (Nationals) 4, Bowie Baysox 3 in 7 innings

Bowie jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings in the nightcap but could not hold the lead. Bowie’s runs were driven in by McKenna, Corban Joseph, and Aderlin Rodriguez. Mountcastle had one hit and Bannon went hitless again. Bannon’s batting average at Bowie is now .143.

Dean Kremer started for the Baysox and cruised through four innings. He allowed a three-run homer in the fifth inning to cost him a chance to pick up a win. Kremer did punch out five batters.

The game was lost in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh. Branden Kline was charged with the loss, but the final play of the game included an error by McKenna and Cervenka.

Carolina League Game 1- Frederick Keys 3, Down East (Rangers) 2 in 7 innings

Frederick entered the top of the seventh and final inning down 1-0 to the Wood Ducks. But they put three runs on the board (partially aided by Down East’s poor defense) to grab the lead. Pinch hitter Collin Woody and Cole Billingsley each recorded RBI in the seventh inning. The Keys won despite managing only four hits.

Zac Lowther started for Frederick and looked good. He struck out seven over 5.2 innings while allowing just one run. He walked one and allowed four hits, lowering his ERA to 2.89. Tyler Erwin was summoned in the seventh to record his 14th save and did so despite allowing one run. It was his first earned run allowed in six outings.

Carolina League Game 2- Frederick Keys 9, Down East (Rangers) 8 in 12 innings

Fans who stuck around for game two of this doubleheader saw a wild one. Frederick was leading 3-1 after five innings, but starter Cristian Alvarado stayed on for the sixth and allowed the tying runs to score. The Keys scored a run in the eighth inning, but Mike Burke blew the save opportunity. Frederick then grabbed the lead in the top of the 11th when Daniel Fajardo delivered a clutch two-run single. But Down East tied the game again; this time it was Francisco Jimenez who blew the save. Frederick responded in the top of the 12th. Their first run of the frame scored on a wild pitch and then Jomar Reyes plated two runs with a single to give the Keys a 9-6 lead. Jimenez stayed on for the bottom of the 12th and secured the win despite allowing two runs.

Reyes paced the Keys with three hits and two RBI. Fajardo drove in three runs and Preston Palmeiro added a hit and two runs scored.

Kannapolis (White Sox) 6, Delmarva Shorebirds 0

It was a disappointing day on the mound for Brenan Hanifee, the O’s #16 prospect according to MLB.com. He allowed four earned runs in five innings and struck out only one. After tossing eight scoreless innings on July 8, he’s allowed ten runs in fifteen innings. His ERA now sits at 2.89.

Shorebirds hitters mustered a total of three hits in this contest and two of them came courtesy of Mason McCoy. Last year’s sixth round pick out of Iowa is not playing at the level he reached last summer at Aberdeen. After his two hits yesterday, his OPS is only .707.

Mahoning Valley (Indians) 5, Aberdeen IronBirds 1

This was a tight game before the Scrappers scored three in the eighth. Jimmy Murphy started for Aberdeen and pitched well. He allowed just two runs in seven innings, a career high, and struck out four. Jose Diaz allowed the game to get away in his inning of work.

The IronBirds scored only one run despite tallying eleven hits. The sole run was driven in by Willy Yahn. Robbie Thorburn collected three hits to raise his batting average to .308. Appearing here in a rehab assignment, Austin Hays went 1-5.

Complete box scores for these games can be found here.

Monday’s scheduled games:

Norfolk at Charlotte, 7:04. Starter: John Means

Delmarva vs. Lakewood, 7:05. Starter: Luis Perez

Aberdeen at Staten Island, 7:00. Starter: TBD