Norfolk’s trio of hitting prospects took 0-fers in a loss to Durham.
Triple-A: Durham Bulls (Rays) 5, Norfolk Tides 2
A normally productive Tides lineup was stymied by Durham left-hander Jacob Lopez, who racked up 11 strikeouts in 4.1 scoreless innings. Norfolk batters struck out 17 times in all, including every member of the lineup at least once. In a rarity, prospects Jackson Holliday, Connor Norby, and Coby Mayo all went hitless, going a combined 0-for-10 with seven Ks, though Holliday and Mayo each drew a walk. Mayo also committed an error at third base, his 12th, in case you’re wondering why the Orioles haven’t just called him up as the everyday third baseman already.
Recently signed veteran Garrett Cooper continued his red-hot start with Norfolk since the O’s signed him on June 25, going 2-for-4 with his fourth home run in eight games. On the mound, starter Tucker Davidson labored through four innings, allowing six baserunners and two runs. Reliever Nolan Hoffman gave up two runs, snapping his streak of 11 straight outings without an earned run.
Double-A: Bowie Baysox 6, Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) 4
The only winning O’s affiliate of the night, Bowie jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held off a late Richmond comeback for a 6-4 victory. The Baysox got a great performance from starter Peter Van Loon, who was making his first appearance for Bowie this season after spending all of 2023 there. He tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, striking out six and walking none.
Neither prospects Samuel Basallo nor Dylan Beavers were in the starting lineup, but the Baysox managed enough offense without them. Jud Fabian doubled and drove in two runs, while TT Bowens mashed his ninth home run.
Oh, and look who was batting leadoff for Richmond: old friend Ryan McKenna, whom the Giants claimed off waivers from the Orioles earlier this season and have apparently demoted all the way down to Double-A. McKenna went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
High-A: Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pirates) 6, Aberdeen IronBirds 4
This was an all-or-nothing kind of night for IronBirds hitters. Three guys had multi-hit games (Tavian Josenberger, Carter Young, and Jalen Vasquez) but everybody else was a combined 1-for-22. Josenberger hit a two-run homer, his fifth, and Vasquez had his 23rd stolen base. Enrique Bradfield Jr. did not play.
Aberdeen starter Zach Fruit pitched fairly well, going five strong innings, but was burned by back-to-back homers by Nick Cimillo and P.J. Hilson in the fourth. Houston Roth took the loss in relief after giving up another homer to Hilson.
Low-A: Fredericksburg Nationals 7, Delmarva Shorebirds 4
With only two hitters in their lineup with an OPS over .700, you wouldn’t expect Delmarva to outslug anyone, and indeed they didn’t, though scoring four runs isn’t terrible. The team’s best hitter, Aron Estrada, took an 0-for-3, while their second best hitter, Thomas Sosa, has been sidelined since Tuesday with a left shoulder injury. On the plus side, Braylin Tavera, who’d been mired in an 0-for-24 drought, snapped the skid with not one but two hits. He also stole a base but was caught once.
Three of Delmarva’s four pitchers on this night have ERAs over 6.00, so again, you wouldn’t expect them to pitch particularly well. Left-hander Juan Rojas struck out six and walked none in four innings, giving up three runs (two earned). Seven-foot lefty Jared Beck and more reasonably sized 6-foot-2 right-hander Eddy Alberto each were scored upon as well.
Saturday’s scheduled games:
- Norfolk: at Durham, 6:35 PM. Starter: Chayce McDermott (2-5, 3.79)
- Bowie: at Richmond, 6:05 PM. Starter: Ryan Long (0-4, 5.60)
- Aberdeen: at Greensboro, 6:30 PM. Starter: Luis De León (0-1, 4.85)
- Delmarva: vs. Fredericksburg, 7:05 PM. Starter: Trey Gibson (1-4, 3.19)