Orioles minor league recap 6/25: Fry and Phillips struggle at Norfolk

Gwinnett Stripers (Braves) 13, Norfolk Tides 4

The Tides held a three-run lead after three innings, but the Stripers scored 13 of the game’s final 14 runs to pull off a blowout win. Tom Eshelman allowed one run in the fourth before imploding in the fifth. Eshelman took the loss, and Norfolk’s bullpen made sure of it. Evan Phillips and Paul Fry each allowed four runs in one inning of relief. Phillips and Fry might have still had Baltimore on their minds after being optioned only a few days ago, but they’ll both need to pitch better than that if they want to work their way back to the bigs.

Zach Vincej led the way for Norfolk going 2-4 with a two-run home run. Ryan Mountcastle also finished 2-4, while Austin Wynns and Jace Peterson had a hit a piece. Cedric Mullins finished 0-4 and is hitting just .221/.286/.336 at Norfolk.

Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies) 3, Bowie Baysox 2

Bowie dropped a close one Monday night after Hartford broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning. Bowie’s Marcos Molina turned in a quality start and had only allowed two runs through six innings. Unfortunately, Molina returned to the mound in the seventh and immediately surrendered two singles before being pulled.

Cristian Alvarado allowed one of the inherited runners to score on a single, and that was all she wrote. Alvarado pitched the final three innings and did not allow an earned run. Molina gave up nine hits over the six plus innings, walked two and only struck out one. Still, his ERA sits at a respectable 3.81.

Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians) 11, Frederick Keys 5.

After scoring three times in the top of the first, Frederick allowed four in the bottom half to immediately surrender an early lead. The Keys gave up another two runs in the third and fourth innings that put the game out of reach.

Blaine Knight allowed the first eight runs in another tough start at Frederick. The Orioles third-round pick in 2018 is now 0-4 with a 6.29 ERA for the Keys. He allowed six hits, walked five batters and gave up two home runs. Knight absolutely dominated at Delmarva through five starts before earning a promotion to Frederick. As it turns out, that jump can be a little difficult. Hopefully the righty can figure things out soon.

Sean Miller, J.C. Escarra and Ryan Ripken led the way for Frederick with two hits a piece. Ripken blasted a solo shot in the top of the sixth and finished with three RBIs.

Delmarva Shorebirds 3, Lakewood BlueClaws (Phillies) 2

The Shorebirds had better luck than Bowie in a one run game last night. Cadyn Grenier won the game for Delmarva with a walk-off single to left field. The knock plated Adam Hall, and was only Delmarva’s fifth hit of the game. Hall and Grenier had four of the five, and Nick Horvath doubled before scoring in the third.

Gray Fenter, a seventh-round pick in 2015, allowed only one hit in four shutout innings. The 23-year-old has dominated at Delmarva this year, pitching to a 5-1 record with a 1.82 ERA. Drew Rom pitched the final four innings, allowed two runs, but eventually notched the win.

Box scores for Monday’s games can be found here

Today’s scheduled games:

Norfolk vs. Gwinnett, 7:05. Starter: Keegan Akin

Bowie vs. Hartford, 7:05. Starter: Zac Lowther

Frederick at Lynchburg, 6:30. Starter: Brenan Hanifee

Delmarva vs. Lakewood, 7:05. Starter: Grayson Rodriguez

Aberdeen vs. Brooklyn, 7:05. Starter: TBD