Orioles minor league recap 8/26: Zach Peek impresses as Aberdeen is lone winner on the farm

Triple-A: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins) 8, Norfolk Tides 2

A lack of offense was a theme for Orioles affiliates on this night. That starts in Norfolk, where the Tides’ lineup could only muster four hits. Mason McCoy and J.C. Escarra both doubled, while Adley Rutschman and Ryan McKenna had a single each. Tyler Nevin had a nightmarish game on the basepaths, being both thrown out stealing and picked off at first base.

Norfolk needed six pitchers to get through the nine innings at Harbor Park. Kevin Smith started but was lifted after 3.1 innings and 82 pitches, allowing three runs on six hits, three walks, and four strikeouts. The bullpen behind him had mixed results. Felix Baustista (1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 SO) was good, as was Zack Burdi (1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 SO). But Adam Plutko (1.0 IP, 2 R) and Thomas Eshelman (1.0 IP, 3 R) were not.

Double-A: Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) 6, Bowie Baysox 1

Terrin Vavra had the best day of anyone. He had a 2-for-4 evening, which included a double and his fifth home run of the season. Cody Roberts had a nice game as well with three base hits in four at-bats. The only other hit was a single from Jordan Westburg.

Mickey Jannis managed to get through five innings, but not before serving up four runs on eight hits, two walks, a strikeout, and two homers. David Lebron had similar troubles in his two innings of work as he allowed a pair of solo home runs. At least Steve Klimek was quite good, tossing two scoreless frames.

High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 2, Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 1 - Game 1 - F/8

The farm system’s lone win of the day, Aberdeen only just barely squeezed this one out. Their first run came on a fielding error to score AJ Graffanino, and then the second was courtesy of the zombie runner in the eighth inning, who scored on a sacrifice fly by Graffanino. Multi-hit performances were had by Gunnar Henderson and Graffanino. Henderson, Doran Turchin, and Lamar Sparks each doubled.

However, the stars of this game were the Aberdeen pitchers, specifically Zach Peek. The starter was terrific, tossing five innings of one-run ball while striking out seven. That Dylan Bundy trade continues to pay dividends. Clayton McGinness and Shelton Perkins did well behind him, shutting down the Brooklyn offense over the final three innings.

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 1, Aberdeen IronBirds 0 - Game 2 - F/7

The IronBirds pitchers were good in Game 2 as well. Conner Gillispie struck out six and allowed just one run over four innings. And then Luis Perez was dominant out of the ‘pen, striking out four in two innings of work. But it just wasn’t enough due to their offense’s struggles to string hits together.

Aberdeen had at least one runner on base in all but one inning in this game. They outhit their opponent 6-to-2, struck out less (7-to-10) and walked just as much (3-to-3). But they went 0-for-7 with runners position, failing to come up with the big hit. Some guys still ended up with decent box scores though. Gunnar Henderson had two hits, including a triple. Andrew Martinez had a single and a double. Lamar Sparks singled and stole a base.

Low-A: Salem Red Sox 8, Delmarva Shorebirds 3

The Shorebirds had the lead until deep into this game as Ty Blach and Shane Davis combined for six scoreless innings. But Preston Price had trouble in seventh inning, allowing four runs on three hits, a walk, and a strikeout. Rickey Ramirez took over from there and was no better as he allowed the inherited runners to score and gave up three runs of his own, although only one was earned due to an error by John Rhodes.

There were more positives in the lineup. Connor Norby and Colton Cowser both had two hits. Ryne Ogren doubled twice. Darell Hernaiz singled and scored a run. Coby Mayo was 0-for-2, but he walked twice.

Complete box scores from all of Wednesday’s games can be found here. The Orioles’ Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League teams were both off.

Thursday’s scheduled games

• Norfolk: vs Jacksonville, 12:05. Starter: Ofelky Peralta (3-0, 5.06 ERA)
• Bowie: vs Erie, 7:05. Starter: TBD
• Aberdeen: at Brooklyn, 7:00. Starter: Griffin McLarty (0-1, 1.80 ERA)
• Delmarva: at Salem, 7:05. Starter: Jake Lyons (3-3, 3.97 ERA)