Orioles minor league recap 8/13: Norfolk loses, but Adley continues to mash

Triple-A: Memphis Redbirds (STL) 7, Norfolk Tides 6 - F/11

The good news about #7 prospect Mike Baumann’s start is that he struck out four batters in four innings while giving up one run. The bad news is that he walked six(!), putting him at 72 pitches after just four innings. That is four more walks than he had allowed in his other two Triple-A starts combined. The relievers who followed fared even worse.

Mason McCoy and Adley Rutschman (#1) were on fire at the top of the order. McCoy had three hits including a home run, while Rutschman’s three-hit night included an RBI double. Rylan Bannon (#20) had just one hit, but it was a big one as he hit the game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth. Yusniel Diaz (#8) contributed a two-run single as part of his 1-for-4 night.

Felix Bautista took the hard luck loss as he allowed his ghost runner to score in the top of the 11th on a sacrifice fly.

Double-A: Bowie Baysox 8, Richmond Flying Squirrels (SFG) 6

It was a slugfest in Bowie with the Baysox coming out on top. Bowie got the scoring started in the first inning with back-to-back homers from Seth Mejias-Brean and Kyle Stowers (#22). Cadyn Grenier joined the homer parade later in the game. Grenier and Stowers both doubled in the game, while Mejias-Brean added a single and a walk. Johnny Rizer also had a two-hit game.

Starting pitcher Drew Rom (#25) struggled last night, giving up four runs in just five innings. Two of the four runners who scored reached via walk (he issued three total). Two runs scored on a double and two runs on a home run. Rom also threw a wild pitch and balked. Rough. His relief, Ryan Conroy, gave up the final two runs over three innings pitched.

High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 3, Asheville Tourists (HOU) 2 - F/8

The IronBirds prevailed in this game despite getting just three hits. They didn’t have a baserunner until the 5th inning when Gunnar Henderson (#5) walked. Henderson moved to second and then third on two wild pitches (A ball!) and then came in to score on the first hit of the game, a single by A.J. Graffanino. Their other two hits came in the bottom of the eighth. Graffanino doubled in the ghost runner and then Andrew Dashbach singled in Graffanino for the walk off win.

Starting pitcher Garrett Stallings (#26) had a nice night. He pitched five innings with six hits and six strikeouts, no walks. The only extra-base hit he allowed was a solo home run.

Aberdeen IronBirds 4, Asheville Tourists 3 - F/8

Two games, two times into extra innings, two walk-off wins. The IronBirds got their first three runs in a bunch in the fourth inning when Andrew Daschbach hit an RBI double and Gunnar Henderson followed with a two-run home run. Daschbach’s second hit of the game was also an RBI double, this one in the bottom of the eighth to give the Ironbirds the win. Jordan Westburg (#6) went 1-for-4 from the top of the order. Adam Hall (#11) went hitless.

Zach Peek started for the IronBirds and gave up two runs in four innings. Connor Gillispie gave up one run in relief.

Low-A: Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE) 5, Delmarva Shorebirds 1

Unlike the other teams in the O’s system, the Shorebirds don’t have a lot of highly rated prospects at the moment. But that doesn’t mean they can’t have some nice performances. Jensen Elliott, the 19th round draft pick in 2019, made a nice start last night. He pitched just four innings, but gave up just three hits, all singles. He didn’t walk a batter and he struck out five.

Unfortunately, relief pitchers Shane Davis and Gregori Vasquez weren’t quite as good, combining to give up five runs in four innings.

The offense only had three hits, including a solo home run from Willy Yahn. Jean Carmona tripled and TT Bowens singled.

Florida Complex League

Terrin Vavra (#10), who was put on the injured list with a back strain by the Norfolk Tides on June 18th, is rehabbing in the FCL. Last night he batted leadoff, played center field, and went 2-for-3.

2021 draft picks Colton Cowser (1st round) and Connor Norby (2nd round) joined Vavra in the lineup. Cowser singled, stole a base, and scored a run. Norby reached based twice with a single and a walk.

Full box scores for these games can be found at MiLB.com.

Today’s Games

• Norfolk vs. Memphis, 7:05. SP: Ofelky Peralta
• Bowie vs. Richmond, 7:05. SP: Blaine Knight
• Aberdeen vs. Asheville, 7:05. SP: TBD
• Delmarva @ Lynchburg, 6:30. SP: TBD