Orioles minor league recap 7/31: Mullins and Stewart go deep

Charlotte (White Sox) 5, Norfolk Tides 3

Cedric Mullins stole the show once again in a loss for Norfolk. The centerfielder finished 3-5 from the lead off position, and didn’t waste any time getting started. Mullins homered in the very first at bat of the game to provide Norfolk its only lead of the evening. Not to be out shined, DJ Stewart blasted a solo shot of his own in the ninth inning. Mullins and Stewart were the only Tides players to finish with multi hit games.

John Means pulled out a quality start, but it wasn’t enough for Norfolk. Means allowed three runs on five hits in six innings. Means struck out three, but he walked three batters and surrendered two home runs. His ERA now sits at 2.99. Charlotte picked up two key insurance runs in the seventh inning off of Andrew Faulkner. Tim Melville tossed a scoreless eighth for the Tides.

Lakewood (Phillies) 7, Delmarva Shorebirds4

Delmarva scored twice in the first to take an early lead, but failed to hold it. The Shorebirds picked up their first run via a passed ball, and Trevor Craport brought in the second with an RBI triple. They picked up a run a piece in the seventh and eighth, but the damage was already done.

Luis Perez took the loss after giving up three runs in 5.1 innings. Perez held Lakewood in check through the first five, but the BlueClaws pounced on Delmarva for four runs in the sixth inning. Max Knutson and Brandon Bonilla both gave up two runs in relief for Delmarva.

Aberdeen 3, Staten Island (Yankees) 0

Staten Island outhit Aberdeen 5-4, but the IronBirds kept the Yankees off the board for the duration of the contest. Willy Yahn plated Robbie Thorburn with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. Aberdeen took advantage of a Staten Island error in the eighth inning, and scored two runs off of RBI singles from J. C. Escarra and Alexis Torres. Austin Hays finished 0-3, but he did work a walk.

Matthew Hammonds pitched seven shutout innings for Aberdeen. He allowed four hits, struck out two and walked only one batter. Hammonds moved to 2-2 with a 2.15 ERA. Josh Keaton polished off the shutout and picked up his first save of the season. Keaton struck out four and allowed only one hit in two innings.

Box scores for last night’s games can be found here

Today’s scheduled games

Norfolk: at Charlotte, 7:05. Starter: Sean Gilmartin (5-2, 4.39)

Bowie: at Akron, 7:05. Starter: Luis Ysla (5-3, 4.60)

Frederick: vs. Potomac, 7:00. Starter: Alex Wells (4-6, 3.69)

Delmarva: vs. Lakewood, 7:05. Starter: DL Hall (2-6, 2.40)

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