Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 12, Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) 4

The Tides were swinging the bats like it was early April all over again, pounding out a dozen runs on a whopping 19 hits. Five of those hits belonged to shortstop Nick Maton, who returned from the injured list this week. He doubled twice, singled thrice, and drove in three. Billy Cook also had himself a fine day, tallying two doubles and a triple while collecting four RBIs. The only Tides batter not to collect a hit was Kyle Stowers, who took an 0-for-5.

Among the high-profile O’s prospects, Coby Mayo went 3-for-5 and crushed his 12th home run. He was a triple shy of the cycle, raising his OPS to .975, and all three of his hits left the bat at more than 100 mph. He’s pretty good, y’all. Jackson Holliday singled, walked, and scored two runs. Connor Norby was 1-for-2 but was pinch-hit for in the third inning. According to the folks at The Verge, Norby came up shaking his wrist after attempting a diving catch in the second. Let’s hope his exit was only precautionary.

With a nine-run lead by the third inning, six Norfolk pitchers threw a stress-free ballgame. They allowed only five hits to a Memphis lineup that included Matt Carpenter, Jordan Walker, and Victor Scott III, three players who were on the St. Louis Cardinals’ Opening Day roster.

Box score

Double-A: Akron RubberDucks (Guardians) 4, Bowie Baysox 0

The Baysox were the anti-Tides on this night, getting blanked for the fourth time this year. They managed only two extra-base hits, both doubles by TT Bowens, and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Catcher Samuel Basallo reached base twice with a single and a walk, and leadoff man Dylan Beavers walked once but also struck out three times.

Starter Brandon Young gave up one run in 3.1 innings before turning things over to long reliever Kyle Brnovich, who struck out seven batters in four innings but was the victim of a three-run homer by Akron’s Petey Halpin. The RubberDucks also have an outfielder whose last name is spelled K-O-K-X. I don’t have a comment here, I just wanted to point that out.

Box score

High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 5, Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) 3

The IronBirds rallied late, breaking a 3-3 tie with a run in the seventh and another in the eighth to notch their fourth straight win over the Renegades. It’s always nice when the Orioles beat the Yankees, even when it’s just their respective High-A affiliates. Elio Prado’s first homer of the year gave Aberdeen the lead, and Mac Horvath’s dinger added the insurance. Horvath had two hits, two runs, and two RBIs, and he stole a base for good measure. Center fielder Matthew Etzel also drove in two with a first-inning single.

IronBirds starter Jackson Baumeister had a rough night, walking five batters and giving up three runs in three innings, but relievers Zane Barnhart, Edgar Portes, and Juan De Los Santos combined for six scoreless frames. Portes was particularly sharp, going 3.2 innings and striking out six.

Box score

Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 6, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox) 2

What’s gotten into the Shorebirds? With another win last night, they’re now 6-2 in their last eight games after starting the season 3-19. The top of the Delmarva lineup did most of the damage in this victory, as leadoff man Braylin Tavera and #2 hitter Aron Estrada drove in all six Shorebirds runs. Each had a two-run single and an RBI groundout. Tavera, who was the Orioles’ highest paid international signing in franchise history, has been off to a brutally slow start in his first year at Low-A, so it’s good to see signs of life from him.

Starter Braxton Bragg held Kannapolis to one run in four innings, and reliever Neston German also gave up just one run despite eight baserunners in 3.2 innings. Grabiel (not Gabriel) Salazar recorded the last four outs to earn his first save.

The Cannon Ballers’ manager, by the way, is Pat Leyland (son of Hall of Fame manager Jim), who was a coach for Delmarva in 2019.