Orioles minor league recap 7/13: Austin Hays powers the Tides to a big win

Norfolk Tides 10, Durham Bulls 9

Matt Wotherspoon improved his record to 3-2 on the year with 1.1 scoreless innings in relief on Friday night. Tanner Scott earned his third save of the year with two scoreless innings that included two hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Norfolk starter Chandler Shepherd got lit up in this one though, allowing seven runs in 4.2 innings.

Austin Hays had himself a night at the top of the Tides lineup, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI. Jace Peterson was 2-for-3 out of the cleanup spot with three RBI and two walks. Second baseman Jack Reinheimer also had a pair of hits out of the number eight hole.

Bowie Baysox 6, Akron RubberDucks 5

Despite committing three errors, Bowie edged out Akron by a single run in 10 innings on Friday. Bruce Zimmermann started for the Baysox and lasted 4.1 innings, scattering nine hits while allowing three runs with five strikeouts. His ERA is still only 2.69. Luis Gonzalez got the blown save and the win after allowing one run in two innings of work.

Mason McCoy had a hit and an RBI out of the leadoff spot while Cedric Mullins had two hits and two steals batting right behind him. Second baseman Jesmuel Valentin hit his eighth home run of the year, a two-run shot in the top of the ninth. Carlos Perez and Preston Palmeiro also contributed two hits apiece.

Game 1: Carolina Mudcats 4, Frederick Keys 1

In a makeup game for the July 11 postponement, the Keys lost a close one at Nymeo field. Carolina scored a run on a fielder’s choice in the top of the third and the Keys scored in the bottom half of the inning on a Zach Jarrett solo homer, his seventh of the year. The game would remain tied until the top of the ninth, when the Mudcats scored three runs (two earned) off of Tyler Joyner.

Blaine Knight started the game for Frederick and pitched four innings while giving up one unearned run. Cody Sedlock followed him to the mound and threw four scoreless innings, right before Joyner came on and surrendered the lead.

On offense, the Keys managed seven hits but were 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position, leaving 12 men on base.

Game 2: Frederick Keys 6, Carolina Mudcats 4

The Keys earned a split of the doubleheader by beating the Mudcats by a couple runs in game 2 in seven innings. DL Hall earned the win as the third pitcher used in the game by the Keys. He threw 4.1 scoreless innings with one hit, two walks and seven strikeouts. Nate Karns started the game but only lasted 0.2 innings, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks. Tim Naughton earned his third save of the year.

At the plate, Jomar Reyes went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. He hit his sixth home run of the year in the fourth inning, a solo shot off of Mudcats starter Aaron Ashby. Reyes is now batting .277 on the year with a .710 OPS. Center fielder Robbie Thorburn and second baseman Yeltsin Gudino each contributed a pair of hits as well.

Hickory Crawdads 3, Delmarva Shorebirds 0

Delmarva starting pitcher Gray Fenter did not pitch poorly in this game against the Crawdads — allowing two runs in five innings on seven hits, one walk and seven strikeouts — but he took the loss regardless. His ERA stands at 2.14 for the year.

The Shorebirds’ lineup only managed five hits in nine innings, going 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position and leaving eight men on base. Designated hitter Robert Neustrom went 2-for-4 and catcher Cody Roberts went 2-for-3. The only other hit of the night for Delmarva came off the bat of left fielder Edison Lantigua.

Game 1: Aberdeen Ironbirds 4, West Virginia Black Bears 0

Like Frederick, Aberdeen was rained out on July 11 and thus played a doubleheader last night. They got the better of the Black Bears in game 1 to the tune of a 4-0 shutout in seven innings. Ironbirds starting pitcher Dallas Litscher got his third win of the year with five scoreless innings pitched.

Second baseman Andrew Fregia hit a solo home run for the Ironbirds in the fourth. It was his first long ball of the year. 2019 draft pick Kyle Stowers out of Stanford got into the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the sixth and had an RBI ground out.

Game 2: West Virginia Black Bears 3, Aberdeen Ironbirds 1

Aberdeen scattered seven hits over seven innings but only managed to score one run in game 2 against West Virginia. Catcher Brett Cumberland — acquired last summer from Atlanta in the Kevin Gausman trade — went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Kyle Stowers was 2-for-4 with two doubles.

On the mound, Kevin Magee allowed two runs in five innings on five hits, one walk and six strikeouts. He’s got a 4.19 ERA for the year. Jake Lyons pitched an inning in relief and allowed a solo home run while also striking out one batter.

Complete box scores from Friday night’s games can be found here.

Saturday’s Scheduled Games

• Norfolk at Durham, 6:35 PM ET. Starter: Tyler Herb (4-6, 6.82 ERA)
• Bowie at Akron, 7:05 PM ET. Starter: Dean Kremer (5-4, 3.71 ERA)
• Frederick vs. Salem, 6:00 PM ET. Starter: Ofelky Peralta (0-0, 9.00 ERA)
• Delmarva vs Hickory, 7:05 PM ET. Starter: TBD
• Aberdeen vs. Williamsport, 6:05 PM ET. Starter: TBD