Minor League Wrap Up: May 29, 2014

With the Orioles losing yet another game tonight, we now take a look at some of the Orioles’ Minor League Affiliates: The Norfolk Tides (AAA), the Bowie Baysox (AA), the Frederick Keys (Advanced Single A), and the Delmarva Shorebirds (A).

Norfolk Tides

The night after Norfolk crushed Lehigh Valley, the Tides dropped the series finale by a score of 4-3. Josh Stinson got the start for Norfolk. He went 4.1 innings and gave up four earned runs off of eight hits. Stinson also struck out eight in his outing as well.

Although Xavier Paul went 0-4 on the night, on two separate occasions a wild pitch occurred when he was up to bat and two runs scored off these mistakes from the Lehigh Valley pitchers. One of these wild pitches came in the ninth inning with the Tides down 4-1. After a wild pitch with the bases loaded scored a run making it a two-run game, Chris Marrero stepped up to the plate with two outs.

After Marrero worked the count to 2-1 with runners on second and third, he connected on a pitch up in the zone for a line drive single to center field. The runner from third scored easily making it a one run game, but Brett Wallace got the green light, rounded third and headed for home. Unfortunately the game ended there when Lehigh Valley’s center fielder threw the ball “on an invisible rope” to home where the throw beat the runner for the third and final out of the game.

Although he got thrown out at home for the last out, Wallace had a good game at the plate, going 2-4 with two singles. He accounted for half of Norfolks hits in the ballgame as well. Steve Lombardozzi was one of six Norfolk batters who did not record a hit in the game; going 0-3 in the game. This lowers Lombardozzi’s average to .284. The loss drops the Tides’ record to 20-34 on the year and the team currently sits in fourth place of the South Division in the International League.

Bowie Baysox

The Bowie Baysox got crushed Thursday night, losing to the Akron Rubber Ducks by a score of 16-4. After Bowie’s starter, Zach Davies, was knocked out of the game early only going 3.1 innings and giving up three runs. The Baysox bullpen was unproductive to say the least. Between the four Bowie relievers, a combined 13 runs off of 13 hits and 10 walks.

In regards to the offense, there was a bright spot; however, insignificant it may be in such a brutal loss. Christian Walker went 2-3 on the night with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to score Bowie’s final run of the night. This improved Walker’s batting average to .330 on the year.

Bowie’s record on the year is now 29-24 and they currently sit in second place of the Western Division in the Eastern League.

Frederick Keys

The Frederick Keys lost on Thursday night by a score of 3-6 against the Lynchburg Hillcats. This loss earned Lynchburg the sweep over the Keys in the three-game series.

The Keys’ starting pitcher, Brady Wager, pitched well as he went six solid innings giving up one earned run off of six hits in the process. Frederick was down 2-1 going into the top of the seventh inning. However, they took the leas thanks to the two-run double of Glynn Davis. This lead would be short-lived as  the Hillcats scored the final four runs of the game off of right-handed reliever Miguel Chalas. Chalas gave up a game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh and then allowed three more runs to score in the eighth inning.

Davis’ two-RBI double improved his batting average to .314 on the year. Four other Keys players each recorded a single hit, including Zane Chavez who also hit a double that scored a run in the game on Thursday.

Frederick is now 21-30 on the year and sits at the bottom of the Northern Division in the Carolina League.

Delmarva Shorebirds

The Delmarva Shorebirds did something Thursday night none of the other Baltimore Minor League Affiliates nor could the Orioles do: Win. The Shorebirds picked up the win against the Lakewood BlueClaws by a score of 4-3.

Down 2-0 early, the Shorebirds rallied back, scoring one in the fourth and another two in the fifth. All three of these runs were hit in by two Trey Mancini RBI singles. The Shorebirds added another run to their lead in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly from Jeff Kemp scoring Mike Yastrzemski from third. Despite giving up a run to Lakewood in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Shorebirds were able to hang on and won the series opener.

Mancini’s two hit game improves his average on the year to .314. The Notre Dame graduate also now has 26 RBI’s on the year, which is second-best on the team next to Yastrzemski’s 28 RBI’s.

The Shorebirds were able to hold on their lead because of Jimmy Yacabonis outing on the mound. The right-hander pitched two scoreless innings to end the game where he did not allow a hit and struck out three batters as well. This was Yacabonis’ 13th save on the year for the Shorebirds.

The win improves Delmarva’s record to 31-22 and they are currently in second place of the Northern Division in the South Atlantic League.