Orioles minor league recap 5/3: Norfolk wins despite being out of starting pitchers

Double-A: Erie SeaWolves (DET) 5, Chesapeake Baysox 4

It was a bullpen game for the Baysox and their bullpen let them down. Juan Rojas started and pitched one inning, in which he technically struck out the side but also walked four and threw a wild pitch. No hits, one run. Overall, they used six pitchers with Micah Ashman taking the loss with two runs allowed in two innings pitched. The offense scored three runs in the third inning, in which Griff O’Farrell and Tavian Josenberger doubled. Carter Young also singled in the inning. One run scored on a squeeze bunt by Alfredo Velásquez. After their big second inning, the team had just three singles in innings three through eight. They added a fourth run in the ninth on a homer from Frederick Bencosme. Brandon Butterworth and Ethan Anderson were hitless at the top of the order. Aron Estrada did not start but pinch-hit in the ninth. He struck out on a pitch clock violation. Box Score

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) 2, Frederick Keys 0

You will not win many games with just one hit. For the Keys last night, a second-inning single by Braylin Tavera was the only hit of the night. Starting pitcher Yeiber Cartaya deserved better. He pitched five shutout innings with two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. He threw 75 pitches and has allowed just two earned runs in 21.2 innings this season. The only two runs of this game scored in the sixth inning with the appropriately named Brandon Downer on the mound. Downer allowed three hits and walked four in just 1.1 innings. Box Score

Low-A: Hill City Howlers (CLE) 13, Delmarva Shorebirds 4

Starting pitcher Kailen Hamson was lucky to pitch four shutout innings, considering he also walked four batters. He did only allow two hits. Things got out of hand late in the game when J.D. Hennen and Luis Beltrán combined to allow eight runs in the eighth inning. The Shorebirds led this game, 2-0, at one point thanks to an RBI single from Junior Aybar and a sac fly by Félix Amparo. They added on two more runs in the eighth inning. DJ Layton doubled, then came in to score on a triple by Raylin Ramos. Ramos then scored on a balk. The Shorebirds made five errors in the game, two by Félix Amparo. One of those errors could have been an inning-ending double play had Amparn not thrown it into center field to let three runs score. Box Score

Today’s Schedule

• Triple-A: Norfolk @ Nashville, 2:05. Starter: TBD
• Double-A: Chesapeake @ Erie, 1:35. Starter: Evan Yates
• High-A: Frederick @ Brooklyn, 2:00. Starter: Kiefer Lord
• Low-A: Delmarva vs Hill City, 2:05. Starter: Denton Biller