Orioles minor league recap 7/1: Kyle Stowers goes yard for Norfolk, Aberdeen’s Tavian Josenberger walks it off

The Tides were threatening when rain postponed the game, Bowie swept a doubleheader, and all the other affiliates won.

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 4, Charlotte Knights (CWS) 4 – F/4 (to be completed on July 30)

Bizarrely, this game was suspended with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. A shame, because the Tides were threatening. They’d just tied the game, 4-4, on a Coby Mayo single and had two runners on with Kyle Stowers set to hit next. Stowers had already had a monster day with a two-run homer in the first and a sac fly in the third.

Starting pitcher Tucker Davidson had a great outing, going five scoreless with just four hits allowed and one walk. He also whiffed five. Unfortunately, the Tides bullpen allowed Charlotte to climb back into it. Kade Strowd gave up a game-tying three-run home run and Luis González allowed a run on three hits. Ryan Watson pitched a scoreless top of the ninth.

Other than Stowers, good news at the plate for Terrin Vavra, activated off the IL on Friday, as he tripled and walked three times. Billy Cook went 0-for-3 with a walk. The bottom third of the lineup, Maverick Handley, Anthony Servideo and Hudson Haskin, each singled.

Box Score

Double-A: Bowie Baysox 2, Reading Fightin Phils 1 – F/10 (Makeup of 6/29)

The Baysox played a Sunday doubleheader after rain forced the suspension of Saturday’s game. Leading 1-0 after five-and-a-half innings, Bowie’s Dan Hammer proceeded to allow in the tying run almost immediately after play resumed. Hammer would pitch a scoreless inning after that and Logan Henzman was even better, keeping the Fighting Phils hitless and scoreless for the eighth, ninth and tenth innings to get the win.

Jud Fabian had the game-winner, singling to left to score ghost runner Collin Burns and give the Baysox a 2-1 win.

Box Score

Double-A: Bowie Baysox 6, Reading Fightin Phils 3

A very weird box score. The Baysox struck out 12 times and had just six hits, but all of those hits went for extra-bases. Matthew Etzel tripled, walked and scored twice. Samuel Basallo doubled, walked, and also scored two runs. Jud Fabian doubled, walked, scored and drove in a run. Ditto Donta’ Williams. Collin Burns doubled and so did Randy Fiorentino.

Trace Bright had a good outing, throwing 82 pitches in 4.2 innings with one run allowed on four hits, and seven strikeouts. In 15 games, he has a 4.11 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Bradley Brehmer allowed a two-run homer. Levi Stoudt, claimed off waivers from Seattle on June 13, threw a scoreless inning, and so did Keegan Gillies.

Box Score

High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 11, Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) 10

The IronBirds kept up their assault on Brooklyn pitching, racking up 11 runs on 13 hits and scoring at least once in all but the second, fourth and eighth innings. The most thrilling of those innings of offense, by far, was the bottom of the ninth. With two on and two out, a 20-minute rain delay set in. Once the rain cleared, DH Tavian Josenberger came to the plate and sent Aberdeen faithful home happy with his fourth home run of the year.

Other big days at the plate: Enrique Bradfield went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and scored a fun run when Brooklyn’s catcher fired a dropped third strike to first with Bradfield on third. Never sleep on Bradfield… Douglas Hodo went 2-for-2 with three RBI and two walks. Reed Trimble went 2-for-4 and Carter Young had two hits, as well. From the bottom of the lineup, Angel Tejada, Maxwell Costes and Christian Benavides each had a hit.

Five Aberdeen pitchers each gave up a run or more. Luis de León threw four innings and allowed four runs and Zane Barnhart gave up a run in 2.2 innings. Yaqui Rivera, Deivi Cruz and Kyle Vrbitsky each threw an inning or less and allowed a run-plus.

Box Score

Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 3, Down East Wood Ducks (TEX) 1

The Shorebirds took the series against Down East with a tidy 3-1 win where they held the visitors to just two hits. Well, it would have been tidy except for six walks surrendered by Delmarva pitchers. One of those led to Down East’s only run, charged to Grabiel Salazar in the seventh inning.

Overall, though, Delmarva pitchers were superb. Jacob Cravey, a sixth-rounder last year, threw four scoreless and struck out seven. Randy Berigüete threw two scoreless. And Isaac Solano earned his third save, striking out three.

Stiven Acevedo homered to put the Shorebirds on the board. Aron Estrada doubled home JoJo Blackmon. And Kevin Guerrero scored the third run after he hit a ground-rule double, advanced on a wild pitch, and came home on a groundout.

Box Score

Monday’s Schedule

Norfolk vs Durham, 6:35. Starter: Chayce McDermott (2-5, 3.79 ERA)
Bowie vs Richmond, 6:15. Starter: TBD
Aberdeen vs Greensboro, 7:05. Starter: TBD
Delmarva @ Fredericksburg, 7:05. Starter: Trey Gibson