Orioles minor league recap 8/19: A spotty start for Akin

Syracuse Mets 9, Norfolk Tides 5

It was a bad weekend for top Orioles pitching prospects in Norfolk. On Saturday, No. 8 Dean Kremer got knocked around by the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate. On Sunday, they did the same thing to No. 11 Keegan Akin, blasting him for eight runs in 3.2 innings, including a grand slam followed by a solo home run in the fourth. Yeesh. Well, he did manage five strikeouts.

On the other side of the ball, Norfolk got home runs from Mason Williams (on a 2-for-4 day) and Ryan Mountcastle. Austin Hays was 1-for-4.

Altoona Curve (Pirates) 5, Bowie Baysox 4

The Baysox gave their starter Alex Wells a 3-0 lead in the fourth, but they didn’t lead again after a sloppy four-run sixth. A lot of it was bad luck for Wells, who allowed batters to reach on a bunt single and catcher’s interference, and then gave up a run-scoring sac fly. All things considered, it wasn’t a bad start. Wells left after seven innings with three earned runs allowed and six strikeouts. He’s 8-3 with a 2.40 ERA. Jay Flaa got the loss, allowing the go-ahead run in the eighth.

The Baysox scored their runs in batches: a three-run fourth featuring a Cedric Mullins home run (he went 2-for-5 and is now hitting .257 at Bowie), a Jesmuel Valentin grounder that scored Anderson Feliz (.317/.831 OPS), and a Ryan McKenna RBI single. In the eighth, they got run no. 4 on a Feliz double.

Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Astros) 3, Frederick Keys 5

The 49-74 Keys have been the weakest of the Orioles affiliates, but on Sunday they racked up a nice team win. Starter Cameron Bishop (1-9, 4.83 ERA) tossed a five-inning no-decision, allowing three runs on 2 hits and 5 walks. Scott Burke threw a scoreless middle 2.1 innings to earn the win, and Zach Matson got the save.

The Keys got two-run doubles from the likes of Cole Billingsley, DHing (1-for-3 with 2 RBIs, .286/.722 OPS) and Robert Neustrom (1-for-4). Sean Miller and Will Robertson also went 2-for-4. JC Carrillo had a hit, a walk, and scored a run.

Lakewood BlueClaws (Phillies) 2, Delmarva Shorebirds 4

Delmarva made it suspenseful, waiting until the eighth to score their first runs. Down 2-0, they strung together a three-run rally on a pair of singles, a groundout (on which, incidentally, hitting coach Dan Radison got ejected arguing the call), and RBI groundout, and a triple by Shayne Fontana. Up 3-2 in the ninth, the Shorebirds put this one away when Ryne Ogren doubled and was driven home by a Seamus Curran hit. Fontana, Ogren, Johnny Rizer, JC Encarnacion, Seamus Curran, and Nick Horvath all had at least one hit.

Hector Guance (4.08 ERA) tossed a nice six innings, giving up just the two runs on three hits and three walks. Matthew Hammonds got the win with three scoreless innings.

Aberdeen Ironbirds 5, Vermont Lake Monsters (Athletics) 6

The Ironbirds tried to come back from a four-run deficit in the seventh, but full just short. Starter Jake Lyons (1-4, 3.46 ERA) gave up a run in each of the first three innings and left after four. Marlon Constante had an off day and allowed two more runs. James Ryan, who’d been part of the no-hitter six days ago, allowed a run on three hits.

The Ironbirds did rack up nine hits, though. Andrew Daschbach had a 2-for-3 day with 2 RBIs, Adley Rutschman was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, Toby Welk, hitting .352, had a hit and a walk, and Dalton Hoiles contributed with a hit and an RBI.

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

Monday’s scheduled games:

• Norfolk vs Gwinnett, 7:05 PM. Starter: Bruce Zimmermann (0-2, 6.30 ERA)
• Bowie vs Binghamton, 7:05 PM. Starter: Michael Baumann (3-2, 1.86 ERA)
• Aberdeen vs. Vermont, 7:05 PM. Starter: Dan Hammer (0-2, 1.54 ERA)