Orioles minor league recap 7/24: Baysox use 4-run 8th to seal comeback win

Bowie was the only winner Tuesday as Aberdeen lost in extra, Delmarva was shutout and Norfolk got rained out.

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Postponed)

The Tides game against the Jumbo Shrimp was rained out on Tuesday. Norfolk will make it up as a double-header tomorrow.

Double-A: Bowie Baysox 6, Akron RubberDucks (Guardians) 5

The Baysox exploded for four runs in the 8th to earn a come-from-behind against the RubberDucks. Early on, runs were hard to come by for both teams. Bowie’s starter Ryan Long set down the first 14 batters while collecting four strikeouts, as he dominated Akron into the 5th inning. Bowie had an early scoring threat in the top of the 1st thanks to a walk from Samuel Basallo and a double from catcher Silas Ardoin. Matthew Etzel couldn’t drive Basallo home, however, as he grounded into a fielder’s choice that saw the Orioles No.2 prospect cut down at the plate.

Bowie finally broke through for their first runs of the game in the top of the 5th. Donta’ Williams got into scoring position with a one-out double and Ryan Higgins then brought him home with a two-run homer to left. Once Long had a lead to protect, though, he began to unravel a bit. The RubberDucks finally broke up the no-hitter when Milan Tolentino launched a two-out solo HR in the bottom of the 5th, cutting the Bowie lead to 2-1. Akron would hit two more solo shots off Long in the bottom of the 6th to take a 3-2 advantage. The Baysox starter would finish out the inning, ending the evening with a line of 6 IP, 4 H, 3 ER and 6 K.

The Bowie bats wouldn’t wake up again until the 8th inning, but they awoke in a big way. Jud Fabian led off the inning with a solo HR, tying the game three apiece. Basallo then walked and Ardoin singled to move him into scoring position. Etzel then grounded into another fiedler’s choice to move Basallo to third, and the Baysox took the lead when Basallo scampered home on a wild pitch. TT Bowens would increase that lead, singling to left to drive home Etzel from second and make the score 5-3. The Baysox got their sixth and final run thanks to double to deep center from Frederick Bencosme that allowed Bowens to score from first.

The RubberDucks would get two runs back in the bottom of the 8th thanks to their fourth homer of the game, this time a two-run blast from Yordys Valdes.With only a one-run lead, Wandisson Charles entered in the bottom of the 9th for the save. The 27-year-old Dominican closed the door on any thoughts of the RubberDucks completing the comeback, setting down the Akron hitters in order to seal the win.

Box Score

High-A: Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) 2, Aberdeen IronBirds 1 (F/10)

Down to their last out, the IronBirds tied the game in the bottom of the 9th, only to get walked-off in the 10th. Both pitching staffs sparkled throughout the early innings of this tight contest. Aberdeen had the first scoring threat thanks to two singles in the top of the 1st, but Carter Young struckout to end the inning and strand the runners.

The IronBirds bats would fall silent after that and it was the BlueClaws who would get on the scoreboard first. Aberdeen starter Luis De León got a groundout to start the 3rd, but then walked Aidan Miller to give Jersey Shore a base runner. Cooper McKeehan then relieved De León, allowed Miller to steal second and then saw him move to third on a passed ball. With two outs, Felix Reyes grounded what should’ve been the final out to short, but Aberdeen shortstop Jalen Vasquez failed to field it cleanly and Miller scored on the error.

The IronBirds wouldn’t get a runner past first base until the 8th inning as their lineup struggled to solve the Jersey Shore pitching. Reed Trimble finally broke that streak with a two-out double in the top of the 8th, but Douglas Hodo III left him stranded when he struck out to end the inning. Trailing 1-0, Young led off the top of the 9th with a lineout to center and Maxwell Costes followed that up with another fly out to center field. Down to their last out and with a full count, Vasquez atoned for his earlier error when he lined a solo HR to right to tie the game.

After Zane Barhnart stranded a runner at second in the bottom of the 9th, the game turned to extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Aberdeen’s Manfred Man Luis Valdez was picked off trying to steal third, and the IronBirds went down without a hit. In the bottom of the tenth, the BlueClaws led off the inning by sacrificing their Manfred Man to third. Then, with one out, Barnhart gave up a single to Keaton Anthony to drive home the winning run as the BlueClaws walked off the IronBirds.

Box Score

Low-A: Fredericksburg Nationals 3, Delmarva Shorebirds 0 (F/7)

The Shorebirds gave up three runs in the top of the 1st and then saw their opportunity for a comeback cut short thanks to inclement weather. Blake Money got the start for Delmarva and came into the game with a 18-inning scoreless streak. That streak ended early against the Nationals, as Fredericksburg started the bottom of the 1st with three straight singles to take a 1-0 lead. A wild pitch from Money allowed two runners to advance into scoring position, and a sac fly from Sammy Infante and single from Roismar Quintana brought both home.

After the rough 1st, Money settled in from there. He struck out the side in the bottom of the 2nd and worked around a hit by pitch in the third to post a scoreless inning. He came back for a final inning in the 4th, setting down the Nationals in order for another scoreless frame. After a rough start, the former LSU Tiger finished with a respectable line of 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER and 7 K.

Unlike their starter, the Delmarva bats couldn’t rebound from a slow start to the game. The Shorebirds only had two hits on the game—a single from Aron Estrada in the top of the 1st and another single from Brayan Hernández with two outs in the 5th. Estrada’s efforts in the 1st were immediately followed by a double play while Hernández was left stranded thanks to a pop up to first. Delmarva’s only other scoring threat came in the top of the 3rd. Braylin Tavera reached on a fielder’s choice and Estrada walked to give the Shorebirds two on with two outs. The scoring threat was snuffed out though, as catcher Aneudis Mordán struck out swinging to end the inning.

Box Score

Wednesday’s scheduled games

Norfolk Tides vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Game 1, 5:35pm ET (TBD vs. Shaun Anderson)

Norfolk Tides vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Game 2 (TBD vs. TBD)

Bowie Baysox at Akron RubberDucks, 6:35pm ET (Seth Johnson vs. Tommy Mace)

Aberdeen IronBirds at Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 11:05am ET (TBD vs. Luke Russo)

Delmarva Shorebirds at Fredericksburg Nation, 7:05pm ET (TBD vs. Bryan Polanco)