Orioles minor league recap 7/4: Winless night on the farm

None of the affiliates could get into the win column on a day that was short on top-tier prospect performances.

Triple-A: Durham Bulls (Rays) 3, Norfolk Tides 2 – F/11

Bruce Zimmermann made his case for being an Orioles bullpen option at some point this summer. Over three innings he allowed just one run on two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. The only run he allowed came in the first inning on a solo homer. He gave way to Brandon Young, who outdid the starter by tossing four scoreless innings and striking out five in the process.

Matt Krook followed and would attempt to throw the final two innings, but hit a snag in the ninth when he issued a pair of walks and got the hook. Nolan Hoffman came on as the fireman, but couldn’t stop the tying run from scoring to send the game to extras. Hoffman stayed on to toss a scoreless 10th. Then came Luis González, who did allow the Manfred runner to score, which would prove to be the winning run.

Norfolk scuffled on offense, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The only runs came on one Kyle Stowers swing, a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Connor Norby scored on the Stowers shot after reaching base via one of his two singles on the day. Stowers, Nick Maton, and Maverick Handley each worked a walk. Jackson Holliday got the day off.

Double-A: Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) 9, Bowie Baysox 5

All of Bowie’s scoring came in the third inning. That included a pair of homers from Ryan Higgins and Samuel Basallo. Higgins’ bomb was a solo shot while Basallo knocked in three with his blast. Matthew Etzel drove in the other run with an RBI single. Etzel also worked two walks. Dylan Beavers was the only Bowie hitter with multiple hits, both of which were singles.

Seth Johnson delivered four solid innings on the mound, allowing two runs on four hits, a walk, and a strikeout. Logan Rinehart was perfect over his two frames. Then, things went sideways. Levi Stoudt coughed up four runs on three hits and three walks in just two-thirds of an inning. Keagan Gillies gave up another run over 1.1 innings. And, for good measure, Lincoln Henzman also allowed a pair to score over his lone frame.

High-A: Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pirates) 6, Aberdeen IronBirds 5 – F/10

Aberdeen scored four times in the second inning, and then couldn’t plate another until they scored the Manfred runner in the 10th. Creed Willems led the team with three hits, all singles, and a run scored. Noelberth Romero smacked a two-run homer. Jalen Vasquez also knocked in a pair with his two-RBI double. Enrique Bradfield Jr. went 0-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, a pick-off, and a run scored.

Five different pitchers took the mound for Aberdeen, and none of them threw more than 2.2 innings. Preston Johnson struck out five over 2.1 innings, but he also walked four and allowed two runs. Cooper McKeehan was the standout, striking out three over two scoreless innings.

Low-A: Fredericksburg Nationals 4, Delmarva Shorebirds 3 – F/10

It was a good performance from the Delmarva pitching staff. Eccel Correa started and delivered five innings in which he allowed two runs on four hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. Riley Cooper followed with 3.2 innings of relief, striking out four and allowing just one run. Grabiel Salazar had the unenviable job of needing to stop the Manfred runner from scoring. He couldn’t do it as the Nationals only needed one run and played like it with a sac bunt followed by a single to take the win.

The Shorebirds couldn’t get to scoring until the Fredericksburg starter, Nationals #10 prospect Jarlin Susana, was out of the game. They finally plated one in the sixth and two in the seventh, but that would be it. Aron Estrada had two hits, including his eighth homer of the year. Kevin Guerrero recorded his second triple of the year and later scored a run.

Box Scores

Thursday’s Schedule

• Norfolk: at Durham, 6:30. SP: Justin Armbruester (1-6, 8.36 ERA)
• Bowie: at Richmond, 6:35. SP: Alex Pham (3-2, 5.88 ERA)
• Aberdeen: vs Brooklyn, 6:30. SP: Edgar Portes (4-1, 2.28 ERA)
• Delmarva: vs Fredericksburg, 6:35. SP: Braxton Bragg (2-3, 4.47 ERA)