Orioles minor league recap 4/10: The Machado trade guys shine in Bowie

Charlotte (White Sox) 4, Norfolk Tides 0 (Game 1 - 7 innings)

A Monday rainout pushed the Tides and Knights into a Tuesday doubleheader. The original starter for Norfolk for Game 1, Josh Rogers, was scratched because he’s being summoned to Baltimore to take Alex Cobb’s spot on the roster with Cobb on the injured list. That meant the Tides staff had to patch together a bullpen game, with a second game still to come. At least minor league doubleheaders are only scheduled for seven innings.

Emergency starter Sean Gilmartin gave up two runs in three innings, about as much as could be hoped in the circumstances. Stacey’s cousin Lucas Long (not actually Stacey’s cousin) gave up a pair of runs in two innings. Tanner Scott struck out two and walked one in a scoreless inning.

The Tides really lost this game because their offense combined to safely get on base just five times. DJ Stewart, with a hit and a walk, accounted for two of the five times.

Charlotte (White Sox) 3, Norfolk Tides 0 (Game 2 - 7 innings)

This second game of the doubleheader began at about 10pm last night, which doesn’t sound fun for anybody. It especially wasn’t fun for the Norfolk hitters, who managed to do even worse in the second game than they did in the first, notching just one hit and one walk for the duration. Stewart picked up the lone Tides hit.

This was a scoreless game until the bottom of the sixth inning, when reliever Branden Kline, working his second inning, fell apart. In almost the blink of an eye, three runs were on the board and the Tides went quietly in the top of the seventh to end the doubleheader.

Yefry Ramirez pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out four. He threw 58 pitches, so it wasn’t like he was pulled due to a high pitch count. Perhaps they’re trying to keep him available for reinforcing the MLB bullpen on short rest in a few days.

Bowie Baysox 8, Richmond (Giants) 5 - 10 innings

What I want to see when I look at a minor league box score is when guys who might actually be prospects are doing well. Infielder Rylan Bannon, part of last July’s Manny Machado trade, had a big night for the Baysox, going 3-4 with a pair of RBI. He also drew a walk. Fellow Machado trade return Yusniel Diaz was 1-4 with a walk on the night.

Outfielder Ryan McKenna reached base three times, with a triple and two walks. Bannon and McKenna are both OPSing above 1.000 on the young minor league season. Diaz, at a .691 OPS, at least headed in the right direction tonight.

Reliever Zach Pop, still another part of that Machado trade, pitched two shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts.

Not as positive: Former Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo, freshly banished from the Orioles and assigned to Bowie, faced four batters, retired none, and gave up three runs. That puts him in the infinite ERA club.

Fayetteville (Astros) 7, Frederick Keys 2

A positive about Frederick’s roster early this season is that just about any night you go, you’re going to see at least a vaguely interesting starting pitcher. In Tuesday’s game, this was Brenan Hanifee, the righty from a family of Orioles fans, who improved over his first start of the year by giving up just two runs in five innings. Still a lot of baserunners though, with five hits and three walks and only two strikeouts. Better luck next time.

Even on a good night there’s not a lot to say about Frederick’s lineup. There are not many position player prospects of note here. Tuesday’s game was not a good night anyway, with Keys batters combining for just five hits. First baseman J.C. Escarra, seen often in late innings in spring training, had a multi-hit night.

Delmarva Shorebirds 8, Kannapolis (White Sox) 5 - 10 innings

Like the Baysox higher up in the O’s system, the Shorebirds took their free extra innings runner, brought him home, and then some in a decisive four-run 10th inning. The #30 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Robert Neustrom, tied the game for Delmarva in the ninth inning with a clutch three-run home run. Neustrom was 3-5 overall in the game and also stole his second base of the year.

Also on base three times for the Shorebirds was last year’s competitive balance pick, Cadyn Grenier, playing second base on Tuesday. Grenier went 1-2 in addition to drawing a pair of walks.

On the mound for Delmarva, stalled once-prospect Ofelky Peralta got the start. He struck out ten batters in the game, which is eye-popping. Less exciting is that he only pitched 3.2 innings. That’s impressive in its own way: 10 of his 11 outs were strikeouts. Peralta gave up four hits and a walk as well.

Complete box scores from Tuesday’s set of games can be found here.

Wednesday’s Scheduled Games

• Norfolk: at Charlotte, 7:04pm (that’s what it says) Starter: Gabriel Ynoa
• Bowie: at Richmond, 10:35am. Starter: Bruce Zimmermann
• Frederick: vs. Fayetteville, 7pm. Starter: TBD
• Delmarva: at Kannapolis, 10:35am. Starter: Hector Guance