Orioles MiLB Weekly Recap: March 28-30
- Grant DeVivo
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Norfolk Tides open the Orioles' 2025 Minor League campaign with three-game weekend homestand
*Cover Photo Credit: Kate Kirsch, Norfolk Tides
Play ball!
Minor League Baseball is back in action in Birdland. Harbor Park opened its gates for the first time this season, and the Norfolk Tides went back to work playing baseball infront of their home faithful. A staggering 22,028 fans attended Opening Weekend, which was the highest-attended MiLB Opening Weekend across all of Minor League Baseball.
The popularity of the weekend was helped by the fact that a huge name joined the Tides for the weekend. 2024 All-Star and 2023 Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson played with the Tides as part of a rehab assignment for a right intercostal strain. It was his first taste of Triple-A ball since 2022 when he was the game's top prospect.
The Tides dropped Opening weekend 1-2 to the Durham Bulls (Rays AAA). This is the first weekly recap of the season on Learning To Fly, so let's break down how the Tides performed in each of the three games played starting on Friday.
10,148 fans packed Harbor Park to get an upclose look at the Tides for the first time in 2025. Many received a magnet schedule giveaway at the gates and received autographs near the dugout before the game.
The Tides did not the fans much to cheer about in the 9-2 loss, though it did not seem to dampen the mood of the night. Thaddus Ward got the starting assignment on the bump and went four innings, allowing three runs but just one earned after a first inning error by Henderson. He did walk three batters, however, and this of course is an area that the team wishes to improve on this season.
Corbin Martin was hit very had as he allowed five runs in two innings of work. Having allowed seven hits on the night, he just could not seem to get out of a disatrous fifth inning where he was tagged for those five runs.
Offensively, the Tides remained quiet for the first five innings of play as they collected just four hits and did not put up a run. Their first run came in the sixth inning when Dylan Carlson, who has since been recalled by the Orioles, launched the Tides' first home run of 2025. He went 2-for-4 on the night. Their other run came in the bottom of the ninth via a Vimael Machin RBI single. By that point, the game was out of reach for Norfolk.
It was a quiet night for the bats in general. They also went just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Henderson went 1-for-3 with a single in his first rehab game.
This was a matter of a good offensive team (Durham) capitalizing on repetitive mistakes made by the opposition. The Tides committed six errors in this game, and their two pitchers were tagged for four runs that were not earned.
Raul Alcantara got the start on the bump and aside from four walks, he had a solid three inning start with seven punchouts and just one hit allowed. A throwing error from catcher Connor Pavolony and another fielding error by Henderson resulted in Alcantara's two unearned runs.
Justin Armbruester had a nice start to his campaign as well but like Alcantara, he got tagged for two unearned runs because of errors on defense. He went 2.2 innings while striking out four batters and allowing just one walk. His two unearned runs came on another error by Henderson.
Obviously, it appears to be a chain of rough defense for Henderson. We must remember that this is Spring Training for him, and he is still trying to catch up to speed before he returns to Baltimore. Thus, this is a reminder to remain patient and understand that he will return to his superstar form in no time.
The Tides were down 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth, and they appeared to begin putting an offensive rally together after top prospect Samuel Basallo's first home run and a Dylan Beavers RBI sacrafice fly. However, they would not score again until the ninth inning when Livan Soto collected an RBI single. The offense again went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Henderson went 1-for-4.
Everything went right for the Tides in the series finale, as they escaped the sweep and played great baseball in the afternoon sun.
The offense broke out and did its part by going 4-for-12 (.333) with runners in scoring position and posting five extra base hits. They out-hit Durham 13-9.
The bats truly broke out in the eigth inning, where the game was tied at two a piece. The Tides were able to pull away from Durham with a six-run inning. Luis Vazquez spearheaded the rally with a game-winning 2-RBI triple. The Tides were able to tack on four more runs after that.
Orioles No. 1 prospect Coby Mayo had the breakout game that he has been looking for, going 3-for-5 with his first home run of the season and two RBI. Henderson also had a big day as he went 2-for-5 with his first home run and three RBI to pair with it. Luis Vazquez added two RBI while Maverick Handley and Nick Gordon went a combind 4-for-8.
The pitching did its part too. Pitching prospect Brandon Young threw a wonderful six innings in his first start of the season. He did not allow an earned run and collected three strikeouts and just one walk allowed in his season debut. He threw 75 pitches and 53 strikes, which makes for a stellar ball-to-strike ratio.
Nick Richmond and Luis Gonzalez finished the job for Norfolk out of the pen. They went a combined three scoreless innings and allowed just two hits together en route to the 8-2 victory. Gonzalez was rearded his first win of the season.
Moving Forward
The Tides are on the road this week with a six-game set in Charlotte, North Carolina. They square off against the Knights (White Sox AAA) and they kick things off tonight with a 6:35 pm first pitch. Kyle Brnovich has the assignment on the mound for the Tides tonight.
The Chesapeake Baysox, Aberdeen Ironbirds, and Delmarva Shorebirds will all debut on Friday.
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