Orioles minor league recap 5/29: Jordan Westburg continues to impress, rain washes out two games

Triple-A: Charlotte (White Sox) Knights 17, Norfolk Tides 4

After a shellacking at the hands of Charlotte, the Tides will enter play today trying to forget last night ever happened. In relief for the Tides, Conner Greene allowed four runs, Marcos Diplan allowed four, Manny Barreda allowed two, and Isaac Mattson gave up four. Norfolk’s pitching staff gave up an astonishing 25 hits en route to 17 runs allowed.

Hunter Harvey, who is working his way back from an oblique injury suffered in spring training, was not sharp as the starter either. In 1.2 innings pitched, Harvey allowed three hits, three runs (one earned), and one walk. His pitching line would have looked better if not for a throwing error by second baseman Wilbis Santiago that led to two unearned runs in the second. In 4.2 total innings with Norfolk, Harvey’s ERA stands at 5.79.

The Tides’ offense was provided by catcher Austin Wynns, who was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Center fielder Zach Jarrett was also 2-for-4 with his first home run of the season, and Ryan Ripken had an RBI single.

Double-A: Bowie Baysox vs. Harrisburg (Nationals) Senators, PPD

Makeup on May 29

High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds at Brooklyn (Mets) Cyclones, PPD

Makeup on August 25

Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 4, Lynchburg (Indians) Hillcats 0 (F/6)

Friday night’s game at Arthur W. Purdue Stadium in Salisbury was not only delayed by 45 minutes, but it also ended three innings early due to inclement weather. But hey, at least the Shorebirds got a shutout.

Griffin McLarty, an 8th round draft pick by the O’s in 2019, threw four scoreless innings for Delmarva. He allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five batters. Of his five appearances in 2021, this was McLarty’s second start. The last time he started for the Shorebirds, he allowed one run over 4.1 innings. Like so many other pitchers in the minors this year, the O’s are being very careful to stretch him out after last year’s inactivity. Despite his strong but brief outing, McLarty was ineligible for the win.

Leonardo Rodriguez, who pitched a scoreless fifth inning, earned his first win of the season instead. Jake Lyons earned his first save by pitching a scoreless sixth, and he lowered his already inflated ERA to 11.74 in the process.

Jordan Westburg went 2-for-2 with an RBI single in the first inning, a sacrifice fly RBI in the third, and a triple in the sixth. He came around to score in the sixth when Wildcat pitcher Randy Labaut was charged with a wild pitch. Westburg is hitting .358 on the year with a 1.065 OPS. Shorebirds’ second baseman Darell Hernaiz was 1-for-2 with his second home run of the year, a solo shot in the fifth.

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

Saturday’s scheduled games

• Norfolk vs. Charlotte, 7:05 PM. Starter: Thomas Eshelman (0-1, 8.00 ERA)
• Bowie vs. Harrisburg, Game 1, 5:35 PM. Starter: DL Hall (1-0, 2.81 ERA)
• Bowie vs. Harrisburg, Game 2, Starter: TBD
• Aberdeen at Brooklyn, 4:00 PM. Starter: TBD
• Delmarva vs. Lynchburg, 7:05 PM. Starter: Ignacio Feliz (1-0, 1.54 ERA)