Orioles minor league recap 8/27: Norfolk wins in a rout, Cameron Bishop turns things around at Frederick

Norfolk Tides 17, Gwinnett (Braves) 7

Norfolk scored early and often in the offensive explosion. The Tides scored seven times in the second inning, using three RBI-singles and a ground rule-double. They would add two more in the third, a run in the fourth, four in the seventh and three more in the eighth.

Dwight Smith Jr. hit Norfolk’s only homer of the game, a two-run shot in the seventh, and finished 2-6 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Rylan Bannon led the way with a 3-5 performance and five RBIs, while Christopher Bostick, Austin Wynns and Zach Vincej also had multi-hit games. Engelb Vielma cleared the bases with a three-run triple in the eighth inning. He also walked three times and scored three runs.

Perhaps the most ridiculous stat in this game was the hit totals. Gwinnett actually outhit Norfolk, 17-15, despite losing by double digits.

Tom Eshelman started for Norfolk and allowed four runs on eight hits in three innings. David Hess followed, and picked up the win in relief, allowing three runs on eight hits across five innings. Hess probably would have won a few more games in Baltimore if the Orioles provided him 17 runs to work with. Well, I’d like to think so...

Branden Kline pitched a scoreless ninth.

Reading (Phillies) 4, Bowie Baysox 2

Bowie scored in the first and the ninth, but the seven scoreless innings in between were not enough against Reading last night. The Fightin Phils answered with a run of their own in the first, added two more in the fourth, and added some insurance in the seventh.

Cody Sedlock started for Bowie and allowed three runs through four innings. Sedlock retired the first two hitters in the first before allowing three straight base runners. The first run came on a soft single to center field.

After a leadoff double in the fourth, Cornelius Randolph took Sedlock deep to give Reading the lead. Sedlock surrendered five hits, walked two and struck out six. Brian Gonzalez allowed one run on one hit in three innings of relief.

All four of the Baysox hits came from different players. Anderson Feliz drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first, and blasted a solo shot in the ninth to provide all of the Baysox offense.

Frederick Keys 4, Down East (Texas) 1

Cameron Bishop entered yesterday’s game with a 1-8 record. After eight innings of one-run ball, he had his second victory of the season. Bishop allowed only four hits, one walk, and struck out seven in the dominant outing.

The Wood Ducks only run came after a lead off single, the runner moving up on two ground outs, and a wild pitch by Bishop. They were lucky to score at all.

J.C. Escarra singled in the top of the first to give the Keys an early lead. Ben Breazeale gave Frederick the lead with an RBI single that bounced off the third baseman’s glove, and the Keys used patience at the plate to gain insurance in the ninth. Frederick scored twice after drawing three walks, a double and a hit by pitch in the final frame. Escarra and Cole Billingsley led the way both going 2-4 at the plate.

Lakewood (Phillies) 5, Delmarva Shorebirds 4

Facing a five-run deficit, the Shorebirds scored four times in the final four innings but could not complete the comeback. Dallas Litscher allowed all five runs across five innings, four of which were earned. He did strike out seven, but walked three and allowed a home run. Lakewood’s Carlos De La Cruz drove in four of the five runs with a round-tripper in the first and single in the third.

Adley Rutschman picked up an RBI on a ground out in the sixth inning, and finished 1-4 at the plate. Johnny Rizer plated Rutschman and Adam Hall with a double in the eighth, and Alex Torres brought a runner in with a single in the ninth. Rizer and Ryne Ogren both finished 2-4.

Juan Echevarria and Adam Stauffer combined for three scoreless innings from the bullpen.

Aberdeen IronBirds 5, Lowell (Boston) 1

Aberdeen starter Ryan Conroy did not allow a run through five innings. Conroy, an eighth round pick in 2018, allowed only four hits and struck out four. He moved to 5-4 on the season with a 2.54 ERA.

Kyle Martin followed with two scoreless innings, and Marlon Constante allowed Lowell’s only run of the evening on a solo home run in the eighth inning. Kade Strowd closed things out with a scoreless ninth.

Andrew Fregia broke a scoreless tie with an Earl Weaver special in the fourth inning. Ian Evans hit safely in three of four at bats, and Joseph Ortiz turned in a 2-4 effort. Aberdeen out hit the Spinners 7-6 and finished 3-9 with runners in scoring position.

Complete box scores for yesterday’s games can be found here

Today’s scheduled games:

Norfolk at Gwinnett, 7:05. Starter: Dean Kremer (0-1, 8.68)

Bowie at Reading, 6:45. Starter: Zac Lowther (13-7, 2.71)

Frederick at Down East, 7:00. Starter: Blaine Knight (1-10, 5.90)

Delmarva at Lakewood, 7:05. Starter: Gray Fenter (7-2, 1.91)

Aberdeen at Lowell, 7:05. Starter: TBD