Every affiliate except for Norfolk won, with Delmarva taking down a wild 12 inning win.
Triple-A: St. Paul (Twins) 10, Norfolk Tides 2
After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Tides allowed the next ten runs across eight innings before scraping exactly one run back in the ninth.
The Tides are allowing more than six runs per game for the season, and games like this are a big part of why. Starting pitcher Kyle Brnovich, who after a decent start at the beginning of May seemed modestly interesting, has spent the rest of the month getting pasted. That included this game, where he managed to give up five runs in just 1.2 innings. Brnovich gave up two hits, walked three batters, and hit two guys.
Okay, but is there at least something good to write about Coby Mayo? No. He went 0-4 in this game and struck out three times. His spring training prophecy continues to fulfill itself. Then maybe Samuel Basallo did something good? Also no. He was hitless for the night, though he did draw a walk and score a run.
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 4, Harrisburg (Nationals) 3
Enrique Bradfield Jr. is back! The speedy outfielder had three hits in this game, including an eighth inning infield single. Bradfield then stole second base to create a scoring opportunity, and having done this, copied what the Orioles recently allowed to the Nationals by scoring from second base on a ground ball to the infield. This was the tying run, sending the game eventually into extras – where Bradfield struck again, leading off the tenth with a double that scored a fourth Baysox run.
It’s only been three games back for Bradfield but he’s picked up right where he left off. This is what you want to see if the oft-spoken dream of Bradfield in the Orioles outfield is to come to fruition. The rest of the Baysox combined for just four hits, so it’s good that Bradfield was on. Creed Willems had one hit in four tries, also drawing a walk, and he drove in two runs.
On the pitching side, reliever Keagan Gillies lowered his ERA to 0.90 with a scoreless ninth and tenth, enough to give him a win. Get this guy to Norfolk already.
High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 8, Wilmington (Nationals) 7
Colton Cowser rehab dinger? Colton Cowser rehab dinger! This was the second game back for the Orioles outfielder and he was locked in, reaching base in all three plate appearances.
Infielder Ethan Anderson led the way for the IronBirds with three hits. This included a triple to lead off the ninth inning, a hit that set up Aberdeen’s walkoff win. Outfield prospect Vance Honeycutt was also on base twice, hitting a double and drawing a walk. He also stole his 16th base (!) and threw out a guy at third base. He’s an interesting guy when he’s not striking out.
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 11, Salem Red Sox 5 (12 innings)
These teams were knotted up at 4-4 after the regulation nine innings, so into extra frames it went. They traded a run each in the 11th before Delmarva finally blew it open with six runs in the top of the ninth. That was plenty enough to finally hold off Salem for the win.
It was a busy night for the Shorebirds offense! They had eleven hits overall, drew ten walks, and stole six bases. There were a whopping 26 chances with runners in scoring position. Until that decisive 11th, they blew a lot of them.
Of late, Shorebirds box scores have been the Yasmil Bucce show, which continued in this game. Bucce drove in three runs while picking up two singles and a walk. The guy is batting over .300 for the season and OPSing over .900. He threw out two runners out of seven who ran on him. On the downside, he did commit an error and allow a passed ball.
Ben Vespi, brother of Nick, pitched three scoreless innings for Delmarva, helping to send the game into extra innings.
Saturday’s Scheduled Games
- Norfolk: at St. Paul, 6:07 doubleheader. Starters: Cameron Weston, TBD
- Chesapeake: at Harrisburg, 4:30 doubleheader. Starters: Nestor German, Levi Wells
- Aberdeen: vs. Wilmington, 4:35 doubleheader. Starters: Eccel Correa, TBD
- Delmarva: at Salem, 6:35. Starter: Yeiber Cartaya