A look at how all four Baltimore Orioles Minor League affilates performed this past week
*Note: the author of this article was in attendance for Saturday's Hartford @ Bowie game.
*Cover Photo Credit: Kate Kirsch
The All-Star break has come and gone, and regular baseball is back in action. While the Orioles traveled to the lone star state and took a 3-game road set from the Texas Rangers, their Minor League affiliates also resumed play with each team getting in a 3-game weekend series of their own before an off day yesterday.
Here is a look at how each team did this past weekend.
AAA Norfolk Tides
The Tides opened their gates to Harbor Park and hosted some weekend baseball against the Nashville Sounds (Brewers AAA) and old friends DL Hall and Garrett Stallings. Fortunately for the Tides, they were the ones who made all the right sounds and came out with a 2-1 series win.
The bats broke out in a slugfest contest on Friday as during a 12-11 win, Norfolk broke out with 14 hits, a 5-for-16 showing with runners in scoring position, and 4 stolen bases, two of them being Hudson Haskin. Jackson Holliday utilized the long ball twice in a 2-for-3, 4 RBI showing. After Saturday was rained out, the Sounds took the first inning of Sunday's doubleheader 3-2 after putting up a 3-spot on Carlos Tavara in the 2nd inning, though much of that was propelled by a throwing error by Coby Mayo. On the bright side, relievers Trey McGough, Matt Krook, and Dillon Tate combined for a nice 4 inning shutout effort from the 4th inning on. Offensively, they tagged Hall for 2 runs in 2 innings. Hall is in the middle of a rehab assignment for the Brewers. The second game of the doubleheader was all Billy Cook as during the 9-1 win, Cook collected 5 RBI and swatted two long balls in a 2-for-4 effort. Bruce Zimmermann and Justin Armbruester combined to work the first 4 innings on the mound, allowing no runs and just 3 hits combined.
The Tides get back at .500 in the second half at 10-10 and ar 3.5 games out of first place in the second half in the International League East. They are 46-49 overall this season, and they are now 5-4 in their last 9 games.. Here are three standout performers for the Tides from this past weekend.
IF Jackson Holliday: Happy Holliday! The 20-year-old No. 1 prospect went 4-for-8 (.500) this weekend with a 2-home run game on Friday night and 6 RBI total in the 3-game weekend set.
UT Billy Cook: the Orioles' No. 29 prospect had his own 2-homer game on Sunday as part of a 5 RBI showing in the series finale. He was a .400 hitter on the weekend, going 4-for-10 with a 1.500 OPS.
OF Hudson Haskin: the Orioles' No. 24 prospect appeared in 2 of the 3 games this weekend and went 3-for-5 (.600) with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI, and 2 stole bases.
The Tides remain home for an upcoming 6-game set with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins AAA). Promotions and events include Faith and Family Night on Tuesday and Star Wars night on Saturday. Purchase tickets here.
AA Bowie Baysox
The Baysox resumed play with a 3-game set at home against the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies AA), a very tough opponent and a well sturctured baseball team with tons of young and upcoming Rockies talent including their No. 1 prospect Adael Amador. Unfortunately for Bowie, the youngsters on Hartford showed up ready to play and took the brief series 2-1.
The story is the same for the Baysox as it has been in recent times, and that is a lack of offense. The Baysox dropped their final series before the All-Star break 5-1, a series in which they scored just 8 runs and went 6-for-38 with runners in scoring position. This weekend, they were outscored 11-4, went 3-for-19 with runners in scoring position, and struck out 25 times. No. 6 prospect Dylan Beavers was just 2-for-10 in those three games and is hitting just .231 this month. No. 26 prospect Frederick Bencosme went hitless all weekend. The offense has no answer as of late, and it has a rippling affect on the pitching staff in different ways. Wandisson Charles allowed 4 runs in the 9th inning on Friday, but it was a 0-0 tie entering the inning and he had neither any wiggle room to work with or any last chance offense to bail him out. With all of the offensive promise in the Baysox lineup, it is unfortunate to see their hitters struggling like this. However, the Orioles had their own recent dry spell before the All-Star break and ended the team slump in Texas this weekend. Somewhere along the way, if Bowie wants to start winning ballgames and get their name back in Eastern League playoff talks, the bats are going to need to get going again. The key here is patience because they eventually will.
Bowie falls to 41-48 overall and 9-12 in the second half. They are just 2-7 in their last 9 games and are 6 games back in the Eastern League Southwest. Here are 3 standout performers from this past weekend.
RHP Alex Pham: the Orioles' No. 23 prospect was on his A-game on Saturday. He spotted his fastball and curveball well, he was aggressive in the zone, and he threw affective strikes. He went 4 scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts and and no walks, and he threw 72 pitches (50 strikes).
RHP Cameron Weston: the 6'2" slinger relieved Pham on Saturday for 4 scoreless innings, and he did pretty much the same thing. He attacked the zone and moved in-and-out on batters. His changeup had great drop in the low 80s, a 10 MPH difference from his 4-seam fastball.
C Silas Ardoin: amidst the team's offensive struggles, the 23-year-old backstop swung it well for Bowie this past weekend, going 3-for-9 (.333) with an RBI and 3 walks.
Bowie hits the road this week for a 6-game set at the Akron Rubberducks (Guardians AA).
A+ Aberdeen Ironbirds
Even though the Ironbirds dropped their weekend series at home to the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals A+), there was some history on Friday night.
The 'Birds tossed the franchise's third no-hitter, a combined no-no in a 4-0 win. Four Aberdeen pitchers took the mound and worked to baffle the Blue Rocks. Righty Zach Fruit started the game and and 4.2 innings with a walk and 2 strikeouts. Deivy Cruz, Preston Johnson, and Kyle Virbitsky relieved him and finished the no-no effort. Johnson pitched the 7th and 8th innings, striking out 5 batters along the way. Virbitsky finished the effort with a scoreless 9th inning, striking out one without allowing a base runner to finish the game. It was a historic evening that set a great tone for the remainder of the weekend regardless of the outcome of the final two games. Many players took it to their Instagram accounts to credit catcher Adam Retzbach for his work behind the dish on Friday. It is widely known that a catcher's work behind the plate, calling the game and perfect defense, is one of the most crucial components to winning a baseball game which is why the position is so important. Retzbach, who is a phenomina defender, caught the no-hitter effort on Friday and should not go unnoticed for his contributions to the no-hitter and the win.
Aberdeen improves to 13-11 in the second half, good for second place in the South Atlantic League North second alf standings. They are 47-43 overall and are the lone Orioles affiliate currently above .500. Here are some standout performers from the weekend.
All pitchers from the no-hitter: this is a special recognition for Zach Fruit, Deivy Cruz, Preston Johnson, and Kyle Virbitsky for the historic no-hitter on Friday night. Congrats, all!
RHP Jackson Baumeister: the Orioles' No. 17 prospect sadly did not spin a no-hitter on Sunday like his fellow pitchers, but he turned in a solid start. He went 4 innings allowing just one run on 4 hits, and he struck out 8 batters in an efficient 65-pitch outing (41 strikes).
OF Enrique Bradfield Jr.: the Orioles' No. 4 prospect went 4-for-9 (.444) this weekend with an RBI and 3 stolen bases. He also scored 2 runs.
The Ironbirds hit the road for another series against the Jersey Shore Blue Claws (Phillies A+). The 'Birds have the upper hand in the season series so far with a 9-5 record against the Claws.
A- Delmarva Shorebirds
Cartoon character Bluey made a guest appearance for the Shorebirds at Arthur Perdue Stadium on Friday night. Maybe he was the good luck charm of the weekend because the 'Birds claimed the weekend series against the Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers A-) 2-1.
During Bluey's appearance on Friday, the Shorebirds took home a 5-3 win that was supported by a 2-for-4 showing from the hot-hitting Aron Estrada and Aneudis Mordan's 13th home run of the season. Eccel Correa got the start on the mound and went 2 scoreless innings. On Saturday, the Shorebirds were hanging on tight witht the Ducks entering the 7th inning, the score standing at 3-2 Ducks. However, an Arturo Disla 2-run home run added important insurance for the Ducks and distanced the 'Birds further from a comeback attempt. Delmarva was able to plate one more run in the 9th but they still fell short and dropped the contest 5-3. Sunday's rubber match ended in a close 2-0 win for Delmarva. Nestor German, Juan Rojas, and Hayden Nierman combined to throw a scoreless effort on the mound with 13 combined strikeouts and just 3 hits allowed all day. Nierman pitched a scoreless 9th inning and collected the save. The 'Birds scored their runs on a Braylin Tavara RBI walk and Maikol Hernandez's first home run of the season.
Delmarva now sits at 34-55 overall on the season and 11-13 in the second half of the season. They are 5 games out of first place in the second half standings in the Carolina League North. Here are 3 standout performers from the weekend series.
IF Maikol Hernandez: the 20-year-old hit his first home run of the season on Sunday as part of a 2-RBI effort. He went 4-for-9 (.444) on the weekend with 3 runs scored.
RHP Nestor German: the righty had another solid start on Sunday as he went 4 scoreless innings, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 6. A promotion to Aberdeen could happen for German before season's end.
OF Braylin Tavera: the Orioles' No. 12 prospect had a 3-for-10 (.300) weekend with 3 walks, one of them producing an RBI. He had 2 RBI overall on the weekend, a double, and a run scored.
The Shorebirds travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia for Low-A Battle of the Beltways againsr the FredNats (Nationals A-). The 6-game set begins tonight at 7:05 pm.
Comments