Orioles minors: Bradfield, George, Aloy shine in farm sweep

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 3, Nashville (Brewers) 1

Starting pitcher Cameron Weston battled through a first inning where he walked two guys and allowed a single, surrendering a run on a sacrifice fly. From there, Weston pitched another six innings and only allowed two more hits and two walks, recording a total of six strikeouts. That will work. Who knows, if the news is bad about Dean Kremer, who left last night’s Orioles game with tightness in his throwing elbow, maybe Weston will get an MLB shot for the last few starts of the year.

Tides hitters

were able to tie up the game right in the bottom of the first, then scratch out another run in each of the fourth and eighth innings. Batting out of the leadoff spot, Enrique Bradfield Jr. had a hit, a walk, and two stolen bases. He scored two of the three Norfolk runs. This was his first Triple-A hit in three games. The way the season has gone, Bradfield is pretty much the only prospect left in this Tides lineup. If you want to count Jud Fabian, he went 0-4 with two strikeouts, lowering his Tides OPS to .699.

Box score.

Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 5, Harrisburg (Nationals) 1

My guy Aron Estrada, who if you haven’t heard is still just 20 years old, made it back from the injured list this week and he’s picked up four hits in three games since returning. That included two in this game last night, as well as a walk. Estrada drove in two runs in the game. So did recent promotion – and another 20-year-old – Thomas Sosa. In Sosa’s case, a two-run homer in the eighth inning got his RBI. This was his lone hit in the game.

Among other Baysox prospects, Creed Willems had a pair of hits, Griff O’Ferrall added a triple, and Brandon Butterworth went 1-3 with a walk.

The pitching was good too. I know, it’s unheard of on the farm this year. Starting pitcher Luis De León, making just his second start at this level, struck out eight batters in 5.1 innings. De León mostly scattered three hits and three walks, allowing just one run. Following in extended relief was Trace Bright, who struck out five batters while allowing four hits over the final 3.2 innings for a lengthy save.

Box score.

High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 9, Wilmington (Nationals) 2

The IronBirds fell behind 2-0 in the first inning. They trailed for most of the game but poured on the runs late, scoring eight of their nine runs from the sixth inning on, including two in the eighth and three in the ninth to really put it out of reach.

Recent sensation Nate George batted out of the leadoff spot for Aberdeen and got on base four times: A double, two singles, and a walk. The 19-year-old outfielder raised his OPS at this level to .790 with this performance. That’s going to be a nice positive to take away as this affiliate’s season ends in two more games. Even Vance Honeycutt got in on the action, getting on base with two hits – including his fifth homer – and a walk. In Honeycutt fashion, he struck out the two times he did not reach.

Pitchers Sebastian Gongora and Evan Yates combined to pitch this entire game. Gongora allowed just those two first inning runs over a five-inning effort, and Yates – a 22-year-old righty – rolled through four scoreless frames as the hitters jumped out to a lead.

Box score.

Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 6, Lynchburg (Guardians) 0

A nice game for Orioles prospects who only joined the organization in July. 1-2 hitters Wehiwa Aloy and Ike Irish had a pair of hits apiece. Aloy had two doubles and drove in two runs. Irish had a single and a double. Towards the bottom of the lineup, shortstop Cobb Hightower from the O’Hearn/Laureano trade had a single, double, and walk and scored two of the Shorebirds runs. Hightower also swiped a couple of bags, his sixth and seventh. A good game!

Two pitchers combined for the shutout. The starter, Carson Dorsey, a seventh round pick last year, went five innings, striking out seven batters while allowing three hits and two walks. He was relieved by 19-year-old Colombian righty Javier González, who struck out six batters over four scoreless. González didn’t allow any hits, though he did hand out two free passes.

Box score.