Orioles Minor League Game Summaries - April 15, 2008

Norfolk Tides (AAA)

Record
(5-8)

1

4

Recap:  

Tides starting pitcher Jon Leicester issued a three run homerun to former Oriole Jerry Hairston, Jr. that put the Louisville Bats ahead 4-1 for good on Tuesday.  For Norfolk , it was their fifth loss in a row.

Prior to issuing a two-out single in the fifth, Leicester was on a roll, allowing just an RBI single in the second inning.  He left after throwing five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and a walk.  He also struck out six.

Tides relievers Ryan Bukvich, Alberto Castillo, and Roberto Novoa combined to allow just two hits over the final three innings of Tuesday’s contest.

For the fifth night in a row, Norfolk failed to score four runs or more.  Scott Moore, Mike Costanzo, Oscar Salazar, and Adam Stern all hit singles in the top of the sixth resulting in the Tides’ only run.

Tides lose, Leicester (L, 0-1, 2.92) is charged with the loss.  After starting the season 5-3, Norfolk has dropped five in a row, all on the road.  They’re back at it again tomorrow night against Louisville .  Radhames Liz will take the hill for the Tides.  Game time is 7:05pm. 

Boxscore

(by Scott Hoffman)

Bowie Baysox (AA)

Record
(6-6)

6

5

Recap:  

The Baysox jumped out to an early lead on Tuesday afternoon and never looked back, taking a 6-5 decision over the Erie Seawolves. Starting pitcher Chorye Spoone put together another solid start for Bowie allowing just one run on two hits with four strikeouts. For Spoone, it marks consecutive outings in which he allowed just one run in at least five innings. Despite giving up four walks, Spoone was able to control traffic on the base paths by benefiting from some strong defensive play behind him.

Spoone’s battery mate, Zach Dillon, put Bowie on the board first by driving in Nolan Reimold with an RBI single to right in the second inning. The Baysox then took advantage of some sloppy defensive play on the part of the Seawolves by scoring two runs thanks to an error by Erie left fielder Wilkin Ramirez making it an early 3-0 lead.

The offense added two more to their tally in the top of the sixth with Dillon’s second RBI of the game coming on a double to right. Shortstop Blake Davis added another with his sac-fly to center which scored Dillon and gave Bowie a four run cushion.

With the departure of Spoone, reliever Kam Mickolio was summoned to hold the Baysox 5-1 lead in check. But Mickolio had an eventful bottom of the sixth in which he allowed one run on two hits with one walk and a hit batsman. Yet Bowie ’s lineup quickly nullified the run charged to Mickolio by scoring once in the seventh on a Ryan Finan sac-fly which made it a 6-2 ballgame at that point.

Manager Brad Komminsk then gave the ball to right handed reliever Felix Romero. Though he had a quick, three up-three down inning in the seventh, Romero was roughed up in the eighth, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk as Erie inched their way back within two runs at 6-4. Closer Julio Manon was called upon to work the ninth and despite giving up one run in the inning, Manon struck out the final two batters of the game to earn his third save of the year.

On Wednesday morning, Bowie will look for a series sweep of the Seawolves by sending out David Hernandez (1-0, 1.86 ERA) to face off against Erie ’s Ben Fritz (0-0, 1.59 ERA) at 9:35 a.m.

NOTES:

• Zach Dillon went 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

• Ryan Finan was 2-2 with one RBI, one run scored and one walk.

• Nolan Reimold finished 2-3 with a run scored and a walk.

Boxscore

(by Mike Miller)

Frederick Keys
 (A+)

Record
(8-3)

2

3

Recap:   

Coming on the heels off last night’s victory, the Keys played their third extra-inning game of the year, and what a taxing one it was (no pun intended). The third time’s a charm in extra innings though as the Keys rallied to defeat the Avalanche 3-2 on a walk-off base hit to right field by Todd Davison.

“I was looking for something in the zone with two strikes,” Davison said. “I didn’t think he (Orlando Rosales) was going to get there. We battled. We could very well be undefeated right now. We played some tight games and pitching’s done well for us.”

For Felix Trinidad, this was a revenge game of sorts. The losing pitcher in game four of the Mills Cup returned to Frederick for the first time since last September and mystified Keys batters as Trinidad pitched six perfect innings, baffling Keys batters one after another. It wasn’t until the seventh inning that the perfect game vanished and the Keys bats awoke from the dead.

Salem took a 1-0 lead off Brad Bergesen in the first inning as a groundout by Mark Ori plated in a run. The Avalanche went up 2-0 in the sixth inning as Ori scored on a single by James Van Ostrand.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Keys tied things up at 2-2. Danny Figueroa drew a leadoff walk. Bobby Andrews doubled down the right field line as Figueroa was held up at third base. Chris Amador walked to load the bases. Trinidad was then lifted for Jason Dominguez who walked Chris Vinyard to force in Figueroa. Back from a funeral, Matt Wieters hit a pinch-hit single to centerfield to score Andrews, but Amador was thrown out at the plate by the centerfielder. Mike Pierce struck out with the bases loaded to end the threat.

“How ‘bout Matt Wieters coming from a funeral, to a plane trip, to a ride here walking up to a 10-pitch at-bat with a pretty nice stroke on the ball,” Thompson said. “When they changed pitchers, I told him (Wieters) if Winterling’s up, you’re going in.”

Both teams could not plate a run until the bottom of the 12^th inning. Frederick got some solid pitching by relievers Ryan Ouellette and Jason Burch as they combined for five scoreless frames.

“The pitching was outstanding. That’s the Ouellette I saw last year, he was lights out. Of course Burch is Burch. He’s had one bad pitch the whole year,” Thompson said.  

In the bottom of the 12^th, Brandon Synder singled to centerfield and moved to second as Brandon Tripp was hit by a pitch. Davison came to the plate and hit a liner down the right field line that was nearly caught by Orlando Rosales, but the ball bounced right next to Rosales’ glove.

Bergesen pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts. Chad Thall came in and finished the sixth and went the seventh inning. Ryan Ouellette came in and threw eighth, ninth and the 10^th. Jason Burch (1-0) picked up the win with scoreless 11^th and 12^th innings.

KEYNOTES: Billy Rowell was placed on the DL with an ankle injury, retroactive to Sunday. Paul Winterling was activated from the DL. Wieters rejoined the team in the seventh inning. With the win, the Keys have now won their first four series of the season. Last year,   

Boxscore

(by Adam Vencill)

Delmarva Shorebirds
 (A-)

Record
(6-7)

2

6

Delmarva Shorebirds
 (A-)

Record
(6-7)

5

0

Recap:  

The Shorebirds and Suns split a twin-bill on Tuesday night, with the ‘Birds taking game one behind a strong pitching performance from John Mariotti and the Suns earning the nightcap thanks to their starter, Terrence Engles.

Mariotti shut out Hagerstown for six innings in game one, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out three. In addition, the Delmarva offense erupted for four runs on six singles in the first inning, giving Mariotti a comfortable lead for the remainder of the game.

David Cash was 4-for-4 for the Shorebirds in game one, while Matt Tucker was 3-for-3. Joe Mahoney led off the fifth inning with his first homer of the season to make the score 5-0, and Wally Crancer’s triple drove in Kieron Pope later in the inning to give Delmarva the 6-0 edge.

The Suns managed to break up the shutout with a couple of runs in the seventh, but the Shorebirds hung on to increase their record to 6-5.

The stay above the .500 mark was short lived, however, as Delmarva managed just three hits hits off Hagerstown pitching in game two. Engles and reliever Martin Beno combined for the seven inning shutout, holding the ‘Birds scoreless for the second time this season.

The series now shifts to Hagerstown , with these two teams meeting again tomorrow and Thursday night.

Game 1 Boxscore

Game 2 Boxscore

(by Evan Lepler - Courtesy of the Delmarva Shorebirds)