Orioles minor league recap 9/1: Bowie’s extra innings loss keeps them from clinching

Charlotte (White Sox) 5, Norfolk Tides 2

It’s always tough to overcome the starting pitcher giving up five runs. Bruce Zimmermann gave up the full Tommy Hunter (five runs, all earned) in a six-plus inning outing. The Baltimore-born pitcher from last July’s Kevin Gausman trade gave up the five runs on six hits and three walks.

The Tides offense only mustered six hits themselves. Rehabbing Oriole Mark Trumbo was 0-3, though he did draw a walk. Ryan Mountcastle, who does not appear to be an immediate September callup (and maybe not one at all) was 1-3 and also drew a walk. Austin Hays hit a solo home run, his 10th for Norfolk on the year. Infielder Rylan Bannon took an 0-4, also drawing a walk, leaving him with an .879 OPS in 19 games since being promoted.

Richmond (Giants) 3, Bowie Baysox 2 (10 innings)

The teams took a 1-1 game into extra innings. Cedric Mullins drove in Bowie’s free 10th inning runner with a single. After taking that lead, Baysox reliever Jay Flaa was unable to close the door. He was undone by a two-run, walkoff double hit by Flying Squirrels catcher Joey Bart, the #2 overall pick in the draft last year and #19 prospect in MLB.

The loss denied Bowie a chance to clinch a playoff spot, although they can still do so with a win Sunday, or with an Erie loss.

Cody Sedlock completed his 2019 return to action with a four inning outing here. He threw 74 pitches to close out the season, giving up just an unearned run on three hits, giving up a walk while striking out two batters. He finishes with a combined 2.86 ERA between Frederick and Bowie, with 100 strikeouts and 46 walks in 95 innings on the year.

Potomac (Walgreens) 7, Frederick Keys 5 (Game 1 - 7 innings)

Plenty of offense packed into the seven innings of this contest, with each team picking up 11 hits. The P-Nats also gifted the Keys with three errors, which led to a pair of unearned runs crossing the plate. It was not enough. Potomac scored five runs unanswered starting in the fifth inning to take home the win.

Keys center fielder Cole Billingsley did the most for Frederick, on base three times with a single each time. He stole a base and scored three runs. Second baseman Chris Clare, designated hitter “Danger” Will Robertson, and left fielder Robbie Thorburn also had multi-hit games.

Starting pitcher Cameron Bishop could have been better in his five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks.

Potomac (Walgreens) 4, Frederick Keys 1 (Game 2 - 7 innings)

Much less offense in the second game, and the P-Nats had most of it. Frederick notched six hits to the opposition’s eight, and their pitchers issued four walks besides. Add in an error that led to an unearned run scoring and that was pretty much that. NASCAR scion Zach Jarrett drove in the lone Keys run in the first inning, his 39th RBI of the season.

Delmarva Shorebirds 4, Kannapolis (White Sox) 3

The Shorebirds picked up their 89th win of the year - no, that’s not a typo - despite getting only two hits. Impressive! They were helped out by the opposing starter giving up six walks, including at one point back-to-back bases loaded walks. The mound is a lonely place when you really can’t find the strike zone.

Adley Rutschman, serving at the designated hitter, was 0-2 in this game, though he did draw a pair of walks. Starting pitcher Hector Guance struck out eight Intimidators over six innings, allowing just a run on three hits. Shortstop Adam Hall took an 0-4 in the game.

Hudson Valley (Rays) 9, Aberdeen IronBirds 1

The IronBirds were the bug, rather than the windshield, in this contest, giving up 16 hits as the offense mustered just three. Yowza. 15th round pick Kyle Martin absorbed most of the damage, giving up five runs on seven hits in just 1.2 innings of relief. Aberdeen’s starter, Ryan Conroy, the Elon product drafted in the eighth round last year, went four innings on 65 pitches, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits and a walk. He also struck out four batters.

Third rounder Kyle Stowers had a double and fourth rounder Joseph Ortiz hit a single. Stowers now has a .683 OPS while Ortiz’s sits at .603. Barely anybody has hit well for Aberdeen, though they’re 41-32 anyway.

Complete box scores from Saturday’s games, which do not include the Gulf Coast League Orioles because that league’s end of the season was scrapped by threat of the looming Hurricane Dorian, can be found here.

Sunday’s Scheduled Games

• Norfolk: vs. Charlotte, 6:05. Starter: TBD
• Bowie: at Richmond, 6:05. Starter: Another TBD
• Frederick: vs. Potomac, 6:00. Starter: Blaine Knight
• Delmarva: vs. Kannapolis, 5:05. Starter: Dallas Litscher
• Aberdeen: at Hudson Valley, 4:35. Starter: Yet another TBD