The Orioles’ affiliates got swept, with Aberdeen and Delmarva combining for eight errors and just five hits in shutout defeats.
Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 9, Norfolk Tides 2
If Julio Teheran wants to be considered for a spot on the Orioles’ pitching staff, this sure wasn’t the way to make his case. The veteran right-hander got crushed for seven runs without making it out of the first inning. After starting his night with a strikeout, Teheran gave up four consecutive singles, and with two down, he thought he had an inning-ending strikeout, only for the 3-2 pitch to be overturned to a ball on an ABS challenge. He then coughed up another walk, a bases-loaded double, and an RBI single before getting the hook with a 7-0 deficit.
The game was all but over at that point, and the Tides never really made it close. Still, some notable hitting prospects did notable things. Jackson Holliday reached base four times on a single and three walks — Triple-A pitchers remain afraid to pitch to him — and Connor Norby had a double and two free passes. Coby Mayo singled and walked as well.
Double-A: Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies) 10, Bowie Baysox 3
Bowie, like Norfolk, suffered through a rough pitching performance. Starter Alex Pham struck out seven in 4.1 innings, but also walked three and coughed up a three-run homer to light-hitting outfielder Ethan Wilson. Nick Richmond had a forgettable outing in relief, giving up five runs on a pair of homers while recording just one out.
On the offensive side, breakout prospect Matthew Etzel shined with a 3-for-5 showing, including his second home run for the Baysox. The 2023 tenth round pick is acclimating well to Double-A, batting .288 with a .768 OPS. No other Bowie batter had more than one hit, though Dylan Beavers tripled.
High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 7, Aberdeen IronBirds 0
You know it’s a bad day for your team when you have as many errors as hits (three each). This was a total offensive failure for the IronBirds, who led off the game with back-to-back singles — by a rehabbing Terrin Vavra and DH Mac Horvath — and then went 1-for-26 with nine strikeouts and no walks for the rest of the game. Also, somehow Vavra was thrown out at second on Horvath’s single. But then wouldn’t it be a fielder’s choice? I’m confused. Maybe he overran the bag or something.
Starting pitcher Peter Van Loon was okay, giving up two runs in four innings. But poor Luis Sánchez faced six batters in relief and didn’t retire any of them, giving up three hits, three walks, and three runs. Meanwhile, the IronBirds committed three errors that led to an unearned run, including two throwing errors by catcher Creed Willems.
Low-A: Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers) 8, Delmarva Shorebirds 0
What’s worse than having as many errors as hits? How about having more errors than hits? That’s the fate that befell the Shorebirds, who committed five miscues and had only two knocks in an all-around futile effort, completing the dubious sweep of O’s affiliates on this night. Wood Ducks pitchers Paul Bonzagni and Josh Trentadue actually carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning before back-to-back singles by Thomas Sosa and Aron Estrada ended that bid.
Despite the final score, Shorebirds starter Braxton Bragg had an outing to brag about, going five innings without allowing an earned run, striking out eight and walking none. But he was tagged with an unearned run and took the loss, even though the Delmarva relievers — including Eris Rodríguez (one inning, four runs) — took the brunt of the damage. Catcher Aneudis Mordán made two throwing errors, though he did also pick off a runner at first base.
Saturday’s scheduled games:
- Norfolk: vs. Charlotte, 6:35 PM. Starter: Justin Armbruester (1-6, 9.20)
- Bowie: at Reading, 6:45 PM. Starter: Cameron Weston (2-5, 3.13)
- Aberdeen: vs. Brooklyn, 7:05 PM. Starter: Zach Fruit (2-3, 3.88)
- Delmarva: vs. Down East, 7:05 PM. Starter: Juan Rojas (1-2, 9.00)