Orioles minors recap 8/24: Hanifee headlines day of good pitching on the farm

Norfolk Tides 9, Charlotte Knights (CWS) 8

It was a big night for Norfolk’s offense. Six Tides had two-hits, including D.J. Stewart, Chance Sisco, and Breyvic Valera. Both of Stewarts hits were doubles. Ruben Tejada also had two doubles, each of which knocked in two runs. Mike Yastrzemski only had a single but he also walked twice from the leadoff spot. What a table setter! The only batter in the lineup without a hit was the recently demoted Joey Rickard.

The Tides needed every one of those nine runs too, thanks to some shaky pitching. Starting pitcher Luis Ysla gave up five runs in just 2.1 innings before giving way from Andrew Faulkner. The only Norfolk pitcher who didn’t allow a run is Evan Phillips, who pitched two innings. Phillips didn’t do so well in his Baltimore call up but his time at Norfolk hasn’t been bad.

Bowie Baysox 3, Richmond Flying Squirrels (SFG) 1

It was a nice night for Bruce Zimmermann, who came to the Orioles in the Kevin Gausman trade. Zimmermann pitched five innings with only three hits, one of which was a solo home run. In each of his three Bowie starts he has gone five innings with one run allowed. Not bad!

Zach Pop pitched two scoreless innings of his own and Branden Kline picked up his 13th save of the year. Will we see Kline in Baltimore in September?

Bowie had just five hits in the game, but it was just enough. Brett Cumberland hit a two-run homer out of the ninth spot. Ryan Mountcastle knocked in the other run with a single, his only run of the night. Austin Hays and Yusniel Diaz went hitless and Ryan McKenna had the day off.

Frederick Keys 3, Salem Red Sox 0

The Keys were outhit 9-6 in this game, but luckily that doesn’t matter in the end. Wilson Garcia had 50% of the team’s hits as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run. Nice! Jomar Reyes also homered as part of a two-hit night, and Collin Woody had the other hit for the team.

Three hits were more than enough for starting pitcher Cristian Alvarado. Alvarado pitched into the seventh inning without allowing a run. He gave up seven hits and walked one.

Delmarva Shorebirds 5, Greensboro Grasshoppers (MIA) 2

After going through a rough patch and being given the last 10 days off, Brenan Hanifee was back and looked sharp. After four perfect innings, Hanifee gave up a lead off single in the fifth that was immediately erased on a double play ball. He exited the game after five innings with just 54 pitches thrown, having faced the minimum number of batters. Of the 15 outs he recorded, seven were ground outs and four were strikeouts.

The bottom of Delmarva’s lineup did the damage in this game, with Trevor Craport, Ryan Ripken, and Ben Breazeale each picking up two hits. Cadyn Grenier went 2-for-5 to raise his batting average to an even .200.

Aberdeen Ironbirds 6, Staten Island Yankees 2

Gray Fenter, who I always want to call Fenter Gray for some reason, started this game for the Ironbirds. Fenter pitched three shutout innings and allowed just one base runner on a walk. He struck out four. He was followed by this year’s 9th round pick, Kevin Magee. Magee allowed one hit in three innings. 2018 8th round pick Ryan Conroy also pitched a scoreless inning.

The Ironbirds blew a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh, but came back in the bottom half of the inning to score four runs and retake the lead. Willy Yahn had the big hit in that inning, a two run single. It was part of a three-hit night for Yahn. The other two runs in the inning scored on an error and a passed ball.

Shortstop Adam Hall and third baseman Jean Carmona each had one hit in the game. Dalton Hoiles, son of Chris, was 0-for-4.

For more information on these games, visit MiLB.com.

Today’s Games

• Norfolk vs Durham, 7:05. Starter: TBD
• Bowie vs Erie, 7:05. Starter: Keegan Akin
• Frederick vs Carolina, 7:00. Starter: Alex Wells
• Delmarva @ Greensboro, 7:00. Starter: DL Hall
• Aberdeen vs Staten Island, 7:05. Starter: TBD