Orioles minor league recap 8/16: Ortiz and Lowther win, Sedlock looks good in rehab start

Norfolk Tides 8, Pawtucket (Red Sox) 3

Norfolk grabbed a 4-0 lead in the second inning and never looked back. Mike Yastrzemski was the star in this one, hitting two home runs and driving in six runs. One of those shots was his first career grand slam. He now has seven home runs between Bowie and Norfolk to go along with a .250 batting average.

While Yaz did the bulk of the damage, the Tides’ collectively banged out 15 hits. Pedro Alvarez and Garabez Rosa each collected three hits and runs scored. Chance Sisco, Luis Sardinas, and Adrian Marin each added two hits.

Luis Ortiz made his third start since joining the Orioles organization and pitched well. He picked up the win by pitching five innings of one run ball. He allowed five hits, one walk, and struck out five. In three starts with Norfolk, Ortiz’s ERA is an impressive 2.81.

There was also some squirrel action in Rhode Island.

Bowie Baysox 10, Richmond (Giants) 4

While some of the top prospects at Bowie had nice games, it was Aderlin Rodriguez who stole the show. The first baseman went 3-4 with a triple and five RBI. He also scored two runs. Ryan Mountcastle collected three hits (two doubles), drove in two, and scored three runs. His average is now at .306. Ryan McKenna went 3-4 to raise his average to .262; it was the first time at Bowie that he’s collected three hits. He also stole a base. Yusniel Diaz and Austin Hays each had one hit and an RBI.

Brian Gonzalez started for Bowie and pitched well enough to win. He allowed three runs in 5.2 innings while striking out four. Gonzalez, the O’s third round pick in 2014, has struggled since moving up to Bowie. This outing lowered his ERA to 6.84.

Frederick Keys 4, Salem (Red Sox) 0

It was the Zac Lowther show last night in Frederick. The lefty taken in last year’s draft out of Xavier pitched seven shutout innings and registered eight strikeouts. The seven innings pitched tied a career high. Salem managed only two hits and two walks over those seven frames. Lowther was moved up from Delmarva after dominating to the tune of a 1.16 ERA over six games. He took some time to get accustomed to the next level, but his ERA at Frederick is now 2.50. In his last five starts spanning 31.1 innings, he’s allowed five runs. Tyler Erwin pitched the final two innings to earn his 15th save.

T.J. Nichting provided the only runs the Keys needed behind Lowther. He went 3-4 with a two-run homer. Daniel Fajardo swatted a solo homer in the seventh to extend the lead. Craig Gentry went 1-2 with an RBI as part of his rehab assignment.

Charleston (Yankees) 4, Delmarva Shorebirds 3

Charleston took a 4-0 lead after the top of the third, but Delmarva responded with a quick three runs in the bottom of that frame to get back into the game. But there was no scoring the rest of the way. The Shorebirds scored only three runs despite collecting ten hits. Mason McCoy had three of those. Zach Jarrett and Cadyn Grenier each added two hits. The runs were driven in by Jarrett, Seamus Curran, and Kirvin Moesquit.

Shorebirds starter Brandon Bonilla is getting stretched out as a starter and only pitched two innings, allowing two runs. Ryan Wilson pitched four innings in relief and gave up the other two runs.

Aberdeen IronBirds 5, Lowell (Red Sox) 2

Cody Sedlock continued his rehab assignment and it went much better than his first start with Aberdeen. He threw four shutout innings, allowed four hits, one walk, and struck out three. It was a definite step in the right direction for the 2016 first round pick.

The IronBirds grabbed a 5-0 lead after two innings and that was all they needed. Adam Hall contributed a homer and Robert Neustrom and J.C. Escarra added RBI. Jean Carmona had a hit and scored a run but struck out three times.

Complete box scores from these games can be found here.

Thursday’s scheduled games:

Norfolk at Wilkes Barre/Scranton, 7:05. Starter: Jimmy Yacabonis

Bowie vs. Richmond, 7:05. Starter: Dean Kremer

Frederick vs. Salem, 7:00. Starter: Cristian Alvarado

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

Aberdeen vs. Lowell, 7:05. Starter: TBD