Orioles Minor League Game Summaries - April 6, 2008

Norfolk Tides (AAA)

Record
(2-2)

1

2

Norfolk Tides (AAA)

Record
(2-2)

8

9

Recap:  

The Norfolk Tides swept both ends of their doubleheader on Sunday, dropping the Buffalo Bisons 2-1 and 9-8. 

In game one, the Tides were held hitless all the way into the fourth inning.  With Norfolk down 1-0, Eider Torres ended the no-hit bid with a lead-off double.  He later scored on Oscar Salazar’s single off the glove of the Bisons’ second baseman to tie things up at one run apiece.  Luis Terrero reached on a fielder’s choice and moved up to third on a basehit by Mike Costanzo.  Chris Roberson’s routine grounder to shortstop had all the makings of an inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play.  The second baseman’s relay to first, however, was thrown wide of the bag.  With Terrero breaking for the plate, Buffalo ’s first baseman tried to throw him out but when his relay sailed over the catcher’s head, Terrero scored the go-ahead run.  The Tides’ new closer, Bob McCrory, worked a perfect 7^th inning for his first career save at the AAA level.  Alberto Castillo picked up the victory, also his first at this level.

In game two it took last-inning dramatics, but Norfolk newcomer Mike Costanzo’s walk-off RBI single capped off a six-run rally that resulted in a 9-8 victory.  The Tides sent 11 hitters to the plate as they mounted their amazing come-from-behind victory.  Oscar Salazar kicked things off in the bottom of the 7^th with a single.  Costanzo followed with a walk and Luis Terrero with an RBI double to pull Norfolk to within four.  Adam Stern’s sacrifice fly plated Costanzo to make the score 8-5.  Omir Santos kept the rally alive with an RBI single to bring home Terrero pulling his Tides within two.  Not to be left out of the party, Mike McCoy singled, and Tike Redman drew a walk to load the bases.  Torres followed with a walk, scoring Santos and cutting the deficit to one.  Salazar kept the rhythm, drawing a walk to tie the game up at 8-8 right before Costanzo’s walk-off RBI sealed the win and the doubleheader sweep for Norfolk . 

Radhames Liz, making his AAA debut, started for the Tides and struck out seven in 4.2 innings of work, but also yielded five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks.  Andy Mitchell picked up the win for Norfolk despite allowing three runs on three hits in one inning of work.

Game 1 Boxscore

Game 2 Boxscore

(by Scott Hoffman)

Bowie Baysox (AA)

Record
(0-4)

5

0

Recap:  

A stagnant Bowie offense enabled Erie to complete a four game sweep of the Baysox on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 5-0. Starting pitcher Jason Berken (L, 0-1) was the tough luck loser, going five innings, allowing two runs on six hits with two strikeouts.

“He threw good and kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win,” said manager Brad Komminsk. “It was just that last inning that was a tough inning where he had 30 pitches, but overall he threw very well for us. He gave us a chance but we just couldn’t do anything offensively.”

Erie ’s pesky second baseman, Will Rhymes, scored three runs for the Seawolves, the second of which came on a routine fly ball that ended up falling in front of both Luis Montanez and Mike Rodriguez in the fifth inning.

“It’s whoever calls it but it shouldn’t fall. Somebody has to catch that ball, without a doubt. That ball cannot fall in,” said Komminsk.

Reliever Felix Romero notched two strikeouts in the sixth but was hit hard in the seventh, giving up three runs total including a two run homer to Wilkin Ramirez. The home run was Ramirez’ second in as many days off of a Baysox reliever.

Following Romero, Dan Lonsberry made his second Baysox appearance since being activated from the Frederick roster on Saturday afternoon. Lonsberry tossed two scoreless innings while giving up one hit and striking out one to boot. Sunday’s effective outing helped erase from his memory the loss he suffered in game one on Saturday, Lonsberry said. “I just wanted to come out today and throw strikes. Yesterday was just a day you want to put out of your head and just go back out there and compete and get outs.”

“He picked us up big time. We needed him out there and he did a great job,” Komminsk said. “He threw strikes and got ahead of guys; he was solid. We needed it.”

As the zeros began to pile up on the scoreboard for Bowie , Mike Rodriguez continued to hit as the Baysox leadoff man. Rodriguez has hit safely in all four games this season and finished 1-3 with a walk on Sunday.

On Monday the Baysox will begin a three game series with the Reading Phillies beginning at 7:05 p.m. For the Baysox, Chris Tillman will make his season debut against Reading ’s top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco.

NOTES:

- Greg Nettles, Jonathan Tucker and Kennard Jones each finished 1-3.

- Nolan Reimold went 1-4 with a strikeout.

- Michael Garciaparra is on the Baysox disabled list with a strained oblique. The transaction is retroactive to April 4^th.

Boxscore

(by Mike Miller)

Frederick Keys
 (A+)

Record
(2-1)

9

3

Recap:  

With six solid innings from Michael Crotta, combined with some slugging by Lynchburg, the Hillcats defeated the Keys 9-3 as the Keys took two out of three in the opening series.

“I don’t think we came ready to play today, at least the first couple of innings,” Keys manager Tommy Thompson said. “He (Crotta) had 44 pitches going into the seventh inning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in my life.”

Pedro Beato started the game out rough. He allowed a run in the first inning by walking a batter and allowing a triple by Kent Sakamoto that fell just in front of a diving Paul Winterling. He loaded the bases in the second inning on two singles and an error by Brandon Synder, but escaped the jam by getting a flyout to centerfield.

Beato would get chased in the third inning allowing three consecutive singles. Ryan Ouellette came on in relief of Beato and promptly allowed all of Beato’s runners to score plus one more as the Hillcats led 5-0.

Chad Thall came on in relief, and after a scoreless sixth inning struggled in the seventh, allowing a three-run homer to Jared Keel and a solo blast by Albert LaBoy as the Hillcats led 9-0 after seven innings.

Plate discipline was a problem for Frederick as Hillcats starter Michael Crotta cruised. Through six innings, Keys batters could not get a ball out of the infield. Crotta got groundouts on 16 out of the first 18 batters he faced.

“He did a very effective job of using his sinker and keeping it down. I don’t think any of us really got any pitches above the knees,” Snyder said. “It’s frustrating because you think you’re on a pitch and right at the last second it’s going under your bat.”

Frederick finally got some offense going in the bottom of the seventh. Bobby Andrews walked, Chris Amador was hit by a pitch and Matt Wieters walked to load the bases. Synder hit a sac fly to score Andrews as Amador tagged to third. Following a pitching change, Amador scored on a wild pitch as the Keys trailed 9-2. Paul Winterling got the first hit of the night as Wieters scored, but a costly one as Winterling hurt his right leg rounding first base and was tagged out.

Beato’s Keys debut was a rocky one, as he lasted 3.1 innings, allowing six hits, four runs, two walks, a strikeout and a hit batter. He threw 68 pitches, but got behind most of the batters he faced. Beato could not pinpoint his fastball, overthrowing it at times, but did display an excellent curveball with good break.  

Crotta was solid before fading in the seventh inning. He pitched 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on no hits, with two walks, two strikeouts and a hit batter.

KEYNOTES: Winterling was limping around the clubhouse after the game. Billy Rowell is still day-to-day with a foot injury. After an off day tomorrow, Rowell is slated to start at third. Jake Renshaw or Brad Bergesen will be on the hill Tuesday, followed by whoever does not start Tuesday’s game to pitch on Wednesday.

Boxscore

(by Adam Vencill)

Delmarva Shorebirds
 (A-)

Record
(1-2)

-

-

Recap:  

Poor field conditions caused Sunday's game between the Hagerstown Suns and Delmarva Shorebirds to be postponed.  The game will be made up at a later date. 

4/5 Boxscore

(by Scott Hoffman)