Orioles minor league recap 6/19: Bruce Zimmermann pitches a Maddux

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 8, Norfolk Tides 4

Tyler Herb was the starter for the Tides last night and it did not go well. Herb gave up seven runs in just 4.1 innings. Six of those runs scored on four home runs, including one from the rehabbing Aaron Judge. Combined with his last start, Herb has given up 12 runs in his last 8.1 innings.

Dwight Smith, Jr. went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a rehab appearance. Cedric Mullins, Jesus Sucre, and Jace Peterson all had two-hit games. Peterson is having a great year with a .864 OPS. Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle each had one hit, with Hays’s going for a double.

Bowie Baysox 2, Hartford Yard Goats (COL) 0

It was quite a night for local guy Bruce Zimmermann! Zimmermann isn’t a highly-rated prospect, but all he has done this season is put up good numbers. Last night he pitched the finest game of his professional career, a complete game shutout. Not just that, but he did it without allowing an extra base hit (just four singles) or a walk, and he struck out nine. AND he did it all in under 100 pitches! Just a fantastic night all around for Zimmermann, who lowered his ERA to 2.49 in 12 starts.

Hartford’s starter, Jack Wynkoop, also had a good night. The Baysox only scored twice on him in eight innings, though they did get eight hits. Leading the way was shortstop Mason McCoy, who went 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Right fielder Ademar Rifaela knocked in both runs in a two-hit night and CF Ryan McKenna also had two hits including a double. Yusniel Diaz did not play.

Aberdeen IronBirds 4, Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU) 3

Some of the 2019 draft picks are starting to show up! Tonight’s game featured Joseph Ortiz (4th round), Johnny Rizer (7th round), and Toby Welk (21st round). 10th rounder Jordan Cannon is also on the team but not in the lineup for this game.

Leonardo Rodriguez pitched five innings for the IronBirds with two runs allowed (one earned). Juan Echevarria (2.2 IP, 1 R) and Felix Bautista (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R) followed.

Aberdeen’s offense scored four runs seven walks and three hits, all three of which resulted in at least one run batted in. Rizer and Welk each singled in four trips to the plate and knocked in one run apiece and DH Juan Montes knocked in two with his one hit of the game. Welk’s single was technically a bunt, but they all look like line drives in the box score.

Carolina League All-Star Game
North All Stars 8, South All Stars 7

The Frederick Keys didn’t have a game last night, but nine of their players were on the roster for the North All Stars in a game that took place at Nymeo Field, home of the Keys. Mike Baumann started the game and pitched a quick 1-2-3 inning on just nine pitches. Because it’s an all-star game, that’s all he got.

Other Keys pitchers who appeared in the game were Luis Perez, David Lebron, and Steven Klimek, all three of whom put up a good showing. Perez pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, stopping the bleeding after Juan Hillman of Lynchburg (CLE) gave up four runs. Lebron and Klimek each pitched one scoreless inning.

Center fielder Zach Jarrett and third baseman Willy Yahn were in the starting lineup for the North All Stars. Jarrett went 0-for-2 before being replaced by another Key, Cole Billingsley. Billingsley went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two stolen bases.

Yahn had a big night, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Shortstop Sean Miller also appeared in the game and was hitless in two at bats.

The only Keys all star who did not appear was pitcher Cody Sedlock, who is resting his elbow.

For more details on this game, check out Paul Folkemer’s story over at BaltimoreBaseball.com.

South Atlantic League All-Star Game
North All Stars 6, South All Stars 2

Like the Keys, the Shorebirds had plenty of representation in their league’s All-Star Game. Given that the Shorebirds are currently 48-21, that is not surprising. They had eight players on the roster for the North All Stars. This game took place at Appalachian Power Park, home of the West Virginia Power.

Grayson Rodriguez started the game for the North All Stars, a nice honor for the player that MLB Pipeline has just named the new #1 prospect for the Orioles. Rodriguez gave up one hit in a scoreless inning.

Also pitching from the Shorebirds were Drew Rom, Zach Matson, and Ofelky Peralta, Rom and Matson each pitched a scoreless inning, but Peralta wasn’t so fortunate. He gave up a two-run homer that at the time put his team into a 2-0 hole, but they rallied to come back for the win.

Seamus Curran (DH) was the only position player to start for the Shorebirds. He went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts before being replaced by fellow Shorebird Doran Turchin. Turchin came up with a clutch three-RBI double in the eighth inning. Catcher Daniel Fajardo got just one at bat in which he singled.

The only Shorebirds All Star who did not appear is shortstop Adam Hall, who has been on the temporary inactive list since June 11th. Mum’s the word on why he has been out, but he will rejoin the team on Thursday, per Steve Melewksi.

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For more details on the affiliate games, including those from the Dominican Summer League, visit the MiLB.com score page. More info on the Carolina League and South Atlantic League all-star games, visit MiLB.com’s ASG page.

Today’s Games

• Norfolk @ Scranton/WB, 7:05. Starter: Tom Eshelman
• Bowie @ Hartford, 7:05. Starter: Marcos Molina
• Aberdeen vs. Tri-City, 7:05. Starter: TBD