Orioles minor league recap 8/25: Alex Wells leads the Keys to victory

Durham Bulls 6, Norfolk Tides 0

Norfolk got shut out on Friday night, managing only four total hits as a team. It took until the later innings for Durham to score their first runs, but they plated two in the seventh, three in the eighth and one in the ninth.

Donnie Hart started the game for the Tides and pitched three scoreless innings with three hits and three strikeouts. Francisco Jimenez took the loss after allowing an unearned run in relief, but it was D.J. Snelten after him who allowed five runs (four earned). Second baseman Sharlon Schoop even got in on the action, pitching 0.2 scoreless innings to end the game.

There was no offense to really speak of for the Tides. The only hits of the game were doubles by Joey Rickard and Anthony Santander and singles by Chance Sisco and Garabez Rosa. As a team, the Tides had 11 strikeouts and zero walks on the night.

Erie SeaWolves 10, Bowie Baysox 2

Keegan Akin got the start for Bowie but he was not his usual self, giving up four runs in only three innings. He allowed seven hits, one walk, three strikeouts and two home runs. Erie scored in the first inning and never surrendered the lead, managing 18 hits against the Baysox pitching staff over the course of the game.

Rylan Bannon led off for the Baysox, going 1-for-3 with a walk. But his batting line since coming over in the Manny Machado trade is only .155/.274/.282 in 71 at-bats. Ryan McKenna was 1-for-4, driving in the team’s only runs of the night with an RBI single in the fifth and an RBI groundout in the ninth. Yusniel Diaz was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Frederick Keys 2, Carolina Mudcats 1

Frederick squeaked by the Mudcats on the strength of a quality start by Alex Wells and a few clutch hits from the lineup. Wells pitched six innings of one run ball, allowing five hits, two walks, eight strikeouts and one home run. Over his last 10 starts, Wells is 4-3 with a 3.36 ERA. Four Keys relievers combined to shut out the Mudcats over the final four innings of the game.

Randolph Gassaway launched a solo home run in the first inning and finished the night 1-for-4. He’s hitting .270/.352/.387 with Frederick on the year. Wilson Garcia drove in the Keys’ only other run of the night with an RBI single in the third inning. He finished 1-for-4 as well. Cole Billingsley went 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot with a run scored.

Delmarva Shorebirds 8, Greensboro Grasshoppers 3

The Shorebirds erupted for eight runs on 14 hits Friday night to fly by the Grasshoppers of Greensboro. Shortstop Mason McCoy went 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot, raising his triple slash line to .268/.331/.382. Ryan Ripken was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored, Jean Carrillo was 2-for-5 with three RBI and Will Robertson was 3-for-4 with a solo home run.

Shorebirds starter DL Hall got a no-decision after allowing two runs (one earned) in four innings with four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. He is carrying a 2.22 ERA on the year in 89.1 innings with 95 strikeouts and opponents are batting .206 against him.

Staten Island Yankees 4, Aberdeen Ironbirds 1

Aberdeen fell behind the Yankees in the second, tied it in the third, but fell behind again for good in the fifth. Blaine Knight started for the Ironbirds, allowing one run over three innings with three hits and four strikeouts. Willie Rios followed him to the mound and took the loss after allowing one run over two innings.

On offense for Aberdeen, shortstop and leadoff man Adam Hall went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. He’s hitting .280/.355/.365 on the year. The only other hits in the game for the Ironbirds were a double by center fielder Nick Horvath and a single by J.C. Escarra. On the night, Aberdeen was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, leaving five men on base.

Complete box scores can be viewed here.

Saturday’s Scheduled Games

• Norfolk vs. Durham, 7:05 PM ET. Starter: Matt Wotherspooon (2-8, 4.64 ERA)
• Bowie vs. Erie, 6:35 PM ET. Starter: Brian Gonzalez (6-6, 6.44 ERA)
• Frederick vs. Carolina, 6:00 PM ET. Starter: Michael Baumann (7-4, 4.13 ERA)
• Delmarva at Greensboro, 7:00 PM ET. Starter: Luis Perez (3-3, 3.50 ERA)
• Aberdeen vs. Staten Island, 6:00 PM ET. Starter: TBD