Orioles minor league recap 7/5: Cedric Mullins is heating up in Norfolk

Norfolk Tides 10, Gwinett Stripers (Braves) 5

The Tides offense broke out for 18 hits and five walks. Cedric Mullins led the way with three hits, including two doubles. The centerfielder is in the midst of a seven-game hit streak in which he is batting .451 and has increased his Triple-A average from .221 to .278. Renato Nunez, Pedro Alvarez and Garabez Rosa also had three hits. Mike Yastrzemski and Ruben Tejada had two hits apiece. DJ Stewart was the one hitter who had a tough day at the plate, 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.

Matt Wotherspoon started for the O’s affiliate, but wouldn’t stick around long enough to get the win. Over four innings, the 26-year-old allowed three runs on four hits, a walk and seven strikeouts. Andrew Faulkner gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and a strikeout. But it was Joely Rodriguez that received credit for the win after tossing the final 2.2 frames, striking out four in the process.

Bowie Baysox 7, Harrisburg Senators (Walgreens) 6 F/10

It was the top of the Bowie order that dished out most of the damage in this one. Corban Joseph, Ademar Rifaela, Ryan Mountcastle and Aderlin Rodriguez combined to go 11-for-22 with two doubles, four RBI, two walks and one strikeout. Anderson Feliz drove in three runs. Ryan McKenna had a 1-for-4 afternoon while Anthony Santander took the collar; 0-for-4 to go with a walk and one strikeout.

Bowie sent five pitchers to the mound, but only one of them allowed any earned runs. Christian Binford struggled over the game’s first three innings: five runs (four earned), seven hits, two walks, one strikeout, two home runs. Jay Flaa, Tanner Chleborad and Luis Gonzalez threw six scoreless innings together. Branden Kline earned the win, allowing one unearned run on a hit, a walk and a strikeout in the top of the 10th inning.

Carolina Mudcats (Brewers) 5, Frederick Keys 3

Frederick’s offense all pretty much fell on the shoulders of first baseman Wilson Garcia, who had three hits, including two home runs, and drove in all three of the road team’s runs. T.J. Nichting, Jomar Reyes, Jake Ring and Daniel Fajardo each had a hit apiece. Everyone else was hitless.

Matthias Dietz started his first game since being promoted from Delmarva, but it did not go well. In five innings, he served up five runs on seven hits, a home run, three walks and four strikeouts. Zach Matson worked his way around three walks to throw two scoreless innings, and Mike Burke added a one-hit, no-run inning of his own.

Delmarva Shorebirds 3, Hagerstown Suns (Walgreens) 0

Luis Perez made his first start for Delmarva and stole the show. The 23-year-old righty did not allow any runs over six innings while striking out six, walking two and giving up five hits. Scott Burke earned the first save of his professional career after tossing three perfect innings to wrap up the win.

Mason McCoy, Zach Jarrett and Will Robertson each doubled. Jarrett and Robertson, along with Jean Carrilo, all had one RBI apiece. Kirvin Moesquit singled and stole his 34th base of the season.

Aberdeen IronBirds 7, Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 1

Doran Turchin had an impressive day with the lumber, driving in two runs with a double and a home run. This year’s fifth-round draft pick, Robert Neustrom, went 2-for-5. Alexis Torres added two hits as well. Unfortunately, Adam Hall, one of the O’s top infield prospects went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and is now hitting .197, but he also just turned 19 years old.

Jimmy Murphy looks like a guy that won’t be with Aberdeen too long. He allowed just one run over five innings, striking out five and walking one. The Rec Specs wearing 23-year-old now has a 1.72 ERA. Brandon Bonilla, Diogenes Almengo and Juan Echevarria combined for four scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

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

Thursday’s games

• Tides at Gwinett, 7:05 p.m. Starter: RHP Chris Tillman (0-0, 12.27 ERA)
• Baysox vs Harrisburg, 7:05 p.m. Starter: LHP Brian Gonzalez (2-4, 6.81 ERA)
• Keys at Carolina, 7 p.m. Starter: RHP Lucas Humpal (2-7, 4.11 ERA)
• Shorebirds vs Hagerstown, 7:05 p.m. Starter: DL Hall (0-5, 3.14 ERA)
• IronBirds at Brooklyn, 7 p.m. Starter: TBD