Norfolk’s game was suspended, Chesapeake won a wacky one, and more from the farm on Friday.
Triple-A: Game suspended in bottom 7th
The Tides are trailing Syracuse, 7-6, headed into the bottom of the seventh inning. This was a characteristic stinker for the Norfolk pitching staff, and as it ended up, the only guy who has pitched but not allowed a run is Cionel Pérez.
Dylan Beavers delivering a three-run home run is the biggest offensive highlight for Norfolk, who despite being out-hit 12-6 and committing two errors does have nine outs left to peel back just one run. Jeremiah Jackson had two hits and continues to be a surprise; he’s sporting a 1.080 OPS in 33 games with the Tides.
Syracuse used a former Orioles draft pick, Nolan McLean, for bulk innings in this game. McLean didn’t sign after being drafted in 2022 and then was taken by the Mets the following year. The Tides jumped on McLean, scoring six runs over 3.2 innings, taking advantage of his three walks and two wild pitches.
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 8, Erie (Tigers) 6 – 10 innings
If you can believe it, this was a 3-3 game headed into extra innings and then things got weird from there. Chesapeake scored a run in the eighth to tie it up and ultimately send it into extras. They only played one extra inning and another eight runs scored between both teams! Sheesh.
The Baysox got their eight runs on only seven hits, which is some impressive efficiency. They added six walks, and Erie committed three errors to help them along. In terms of the real prospects among the hitters, there’s really only Creed Willems, who went 1-5 and drove in two runs. Any Adam Retzbach enjoyers out there may like to know the first baseman went 2-4 with three runs batted in.
For those who haven’t yet heard, note that Enrique Bradfield Jr. does not appear in this box score because he’s once again on the injured list, having aggravated a previous hamstring injury while he performed in the All-Star Futures Game. Bummer.
High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 3, Wilmington (Nationals) 1
Did Vance Honeycutt strike out a bunch of times? As a matter of fact, no, he didn’t strike out at all. He also got no hits. Last year’s first rounder was 0-3, though he did draw a walk, steal a base (his 24th), and throw a runner out at the plate. The pick after him from last year, Griff O’Ferrall, also took an 0-for. Austin Overn’s two hits carried the honor for the 2024 Orioles draft class.
The difference-maker in the game for the IronBirds was outfielder Thomas Sosa, a 20-year-old who was playing in just his 15th game at the High-A level this season. Sosa hit a solo homer in the seventh inning and was on base three times in all. It’s a small sample size, but he’s OPSing .858 for the season.
Aberdeen’s starting pitcher, Juan Rojas, was one of the other guys in the Jorge López trade from a few years ago. He pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out three batters.
Low-A: Carolina (Brewers) 3, Delmarva Shorebirds 0
The only really notable thing to say about this one is that it marked the start of Chadwick Tromp’s rehab assignment. The fact that this is even something to note is a sign of how off-kilter the 2025 Orioles season has gone. Tromp had one of Delmarva’s only three hits. Neither recent sensation Nate George or earlier sensation Yasmil Bucce got into the hit column in this one.
Bonus Florida Complex League
FCL Orioles and Pirates played a doubleheader yesterday, with the Orioles winning one 15-5 and losing the other by a 3-2 margin. I’m highlighting the blowout win because that’s a fun score but also because Zach Eflin made a rehab start in this affair.
Eflin tossed 68 pitches over four innings in the game, and although he allowed five runs and that’s pretty bad, precisely zero of those runs were earned as the rookie-level defense did some kicking the ball around behind him.
Outfielder Jordan Sanchez continued his strong rookie-level season with two hits, including a double, as he drove in three runs. The Cuban outfielder sports a .953 OPS through 48 games here.
Box score (win). Box score (loss).
Saturday’s Scheduled Games
- Norfolk: vs. Syracuse, 5:30 completion of suspended with 7-inning Game 2 to come. Starter: TBD
- Chesapeake: at Erie, 6:05. Starter: Trey Gibson (Erie will play as the Moon Mammoths due to a Last Week Tonight with John Oliver gag; Oliver will be at the game)
- Aberdeen: at Wilmington, 6:05. Starter: TBD
- Delmarva: at Carolina, 7:05. Starter: Carson Dorsey