Orioles minor league recap 8/31: Get a load of those pitching lines!

Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 8, Norfolk Tides 3

Not long ago the Tides found themselves chasing after a wild cart spot for the International League playoffs. But after going 2-8 in their last 10 games, including losing the last four games in a row, that dream is pretty much over.

The offense last nights scored three runs on just six hits. Three of those hits were doubles, which helps. Mike Yastrzemski went 2-for-4 with a double. Lil’ Yaz is now sporting a .364 OBP from the top of the Tides’ lineup. Joey Rickard and Garabez Rosa also doubled.

Things did not go so well for starting pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis, who gave up a single run in the first inning and then three more in the third before he was pulled with two outs. Lucas Long came in and stopped the bleeding with 3.1 shutout innings. Long faced 11 batters and just one reached, and that was on an error. His replacement, Jhan Marinez, didn’t quite do as well. He gave up three hits while recording just one out.

Bowie Baysox 4, Akron Rubberducks (CLE) 0

Pitching was the name of the game in this one. Brian Gonzalez had a tough start to his double-A career but now that the season is winding down he is finally starting to get the hang of it. Last night’s start was his best since being promoted from Frederick in May and his first start with the Baysox where he didn’t allow any runs.

Gonzalez gave up just two hits and two walks in his six innings pitched. Of his 18 outs recorded, seven were strikeouts and seven were ground outs. Zach Pop and Branden Kline followed suit in relief with Pop pitching two hitless innings and Kline finishing the game despite the lack of a save situation.

On offense, Austin Hays and Ryan McKenna each picked up two hits with a double from Hays. Yusniel Diaz and Rylan Bannon were both 1-for-4 and Ryan Mountcastle had the night off.

Frederick Keys 3, Potomac Nationals 0

Michael Baumann pitched seven shutout innings with just two hits and one walk allowed. Seven innings matches his season high for the third time, but the most recent before tonight was way back on May 20th. Tyler Erwin pitched two perfect innings for his 18th save of the season.

Right fielder T.J. Nichting led the offense with three hits, including a double. Jomar Reyes knocked in two runs with a double of his own.

Delmarva Shorebirds 2, Hickory Crawdads (TEX) 1

I love good pitching! Can we get some of this at the major league level? Luis Perez struck out an impressive 10 batters in seven innings for the Shorebirds. He gave up just two hits, one of which was a solo home run. Perez is a bit old for the league at 23, but I’m not gonna hate on a season WHIP of 0.98.

Four of the Shorebirds five hits came from shortstop Mason McCoy and center fielder Zach Jarrett, who had two singles apiece. The fifth hit was a single from Trevor Craport, and that one was the game winner as he knocked in Jarrett and Brandon Becker, who had walked.

Cadyn Grenier had the night off and Jean Carlos Encarnacion went 0-for-3 with a walk.

Connecticut Tigers 8, Aberdeen Ironbirds 1 - Game 1

It was the second straight day that the Ironbirds found themselves playing a doubleheader, and game one did not go so well. Starting pitcher Matthew Hammonds went five innings and gave up seven runs on five hits. He struck out eight, which is great! But walked four, which is not.

The offense picked up only four hits, with Nick Horvath’s RBI double the only one that went for extra bases. The red hot Adam Hall had a rare hitless game. Both Robert Neustrom and Jean Carmona went 1-for-3.

Aberdeen Ironbirds 3, Connecticut Tigers 0 - Game 2

Tyler Joiner, this year’s 30th round draft pick, pitched a seven-inning shutout, which was just what the team needed after game one. Joiner gave up just three hits, all singles, and didn’t walk a batter. He picked up seven strikeouts. Well done, young man!

Hall was given a rest in the nightcap and his replacement at shortstop, Milton Ramos, went 2-for-3. His replacement in the leadoff spot, Willy Yahn, also went 2-for-3. Nick Horvath doubled again.

For more details on these games including full box scores, check out MiLB.com.

Today’s Games

• Norfolk “vs” Durham, Completion of suspended game on 8/27
• Norfolk @ Durham, 5:35. Starter: John Means
• Bowie vs Altoona, 7:05. Starter: Dean Kremer
• Frederick vs Myrtle Beach, 7:00. Starter: Cody Sedlock
• Delmarva @ Lakewood, 7:05. Starter: DL Hall
• Aberdeen vs. Connecticut, 7:05. Starter: TBD