Orioles minor league recap 6/11: Gary Sánchez goes yard in rehab game for Norfolk

Sánchez helped propel Norfolk to a win, while Chesapeake and Aberdeen lost late and Delmarva rallied for a late-inning comeback.

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 9, Nashville Sounds (Brewers) 5

Gary Sánchez put up four RBIs and both he and Tyler O’Neill collected two hits as the rehabbing Orioles pushed the Tides to a victory over Nashville. After Norfolk got out to an early 1-0 lead, Sánchez helped blow the game open in the 3rd. Terrin Vavra and O’Neill started the rally with back-to-back singles and Sánchez brought Vavra home on a double down the line in left. Samuel Basallo then pushed across another run on an RBI groundout before Sánchez scored on a Jud Fabian sac fly.

The O’s backup catcher truly put the game out of reach in the 4th, thanks to the third long ball of his rehab stint. Dylan Beavers led off with a walk and then O’Neill got a two-out single to move him into scoring position. Everyone was in scoring position for Sánchez, though, as Bruce Zimmermann left a ball over the plate and the Kraken blasted it over the left field fence for a three-run homer.

The Sounds would get as close as 7-5 in the 5th, but Basallo provided some insurance, driving home runs with an RBI fielder’s choice in the 7th and a bases-loaded walk in the 8th. Even going 0-for-3, Basallo finished behind Sánchez’s four RBIs with three RBIs of his own.

Box Score

Double-A: Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) 7, Chesapeake Baysox 6 (F/11)

The Baysox dropped a back-and-forth affair in Bowie Tuesday, as they couldn’t match the Senators in extra innings.

Chesapeake initially got out to an early advantage thanks to a big hit from Max Wagner. Trailing 1-0, the Baysox loaded the bases in the bottom of the 3rd thanks to an Anthony Servideo walk, Enrique Bradfield Jr. single, and Douglas Hodo III walk. Chesapeake tied the game on an RBI groundout from Creed Willems before Silas Ardoin walked to re-load the bases. Wagner cleared them with a triple to center, giving the Baysox a 4-1 lead.

With a run apiece in the 5th and 6th, the Senators cut the deficit to 4-3. Murphy Stehly then launched a two-run homer in the 7th to complete the comeback. Now trailing 5-4, Reed Trimble answered with a solo HR in the 8th to tie the game and send it to extras.

In the top of the 10th, Harrisburg led off by loading the bases on a hit by pitch and a single to center. The Senators would take a 6-5 lead on a sac fly.

The Baysox went down to their last out in the bottom of the 10th, only for Anthony Servideo to single home the Manfred Man and send the game to the 11th. Harrisburg’s Manfred Man would score on a dropped third strike, once again putting the onus on Chesapeake to extend the game. Bradfield started the bottom of the 11th on second and stole third to move within 90 feet of a tied game. However, Bradfield never came home as a Willems K and Ardoin flyout left him stranded and ended the game.

Box Score

High-A: Jersey Shore BlueClaws 7, Aberdeen IronBirds 3

The Blue Claws scored six runs across the 7th and 8th as they stormed back to steal the series opener from the IronBirds. Aberdeen got out to an early lead in the 1st, with Griff O’Ferrall reaching on an error and scoring on an RBI single from Aron Estrada.

The scoreline would hold at 1-0 until the 4th, when Dylan Campbell led off the inning with a double and scored on a two-out single. The IronBirds would get runners on first and second in the 5th and 6th, but couldn’t capitalize either time, leaving the door open for Jersey Shore to steal the game.

In the bottom of the 7th, with two outs and runners on second and third, Campbell lined a double to center field and gave Jersey Shore a 3-1 lead. After Aberdeen once again stranded a pair of runners in the 8th, the BlueClaws exploded for four runs on two hits, four walks and a hit by pitch.

Trailing 7-1 in the 9th, the IronBirds got runs back on a solo HR from Aneudis Mordán and a two-out RBI single from Estrada. Austin Overn couldn’t keep the rally going, though, lining into a game-ending double play.

Box Score

Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 5, Salem Red Sox 4

The Shorebirds scored two in the 8th to come from behind and take the series opener vs. the Red Sox.

Elis Cuevas gave the Shorebirds an early lead in the 3rd when he launched a three-run blast over the right field fence. It was the first home run of the season for the 20-year-old infielder out of the Dominican Republic, and the big fly gave Delmarva a 3-1 lead.

The Red Sox took the lead back with a big inning in the 6th. Salem tied the game by starting the inning with a single and back-to-back doubles. Yoeilin Cespedes then singled to left to drive across Salem’s third run of the inning and give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead.

The game-winning rally came in the bottom of the 8th. Nate George led off the inning with an infield single, Cuevas walked and both moved into scoring position on a double steal. Joshua Liranzo then walked to load the bases before Colin Tuft tied the game on a bases-loaded walk. Kevin Guerrero plated the winning run on an RBI groundout to short.

The Red Sox went down in order in the top of the 9th to seal the Shorebirds’ victory. Ben Vespi didn’t factor in the decision, but put up his best outing of the season as Delmarva’s starter. The 24-year-old finished with a final line of 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB and 3 Ks. It was the longest appearance of Vespi’s career and dropped his season ERA to 2.57.

Box Score

Wednesday’s scheduled games

Norfolk Tides vs. Nashville Sounds, 6:35pm ET (Tobias Myers vs. TBD)

Chesapeake Baysox vs. Harrisburg Senators, 6:35pm ET (Ryan Long vs, Tyler Stuart)

Aberdeeb IronBirds at Jersey Shore Blue Claws, 6:35pm ET (Blake Money vs. Alex McFarlane)

Delmarva Shorebirds vs. Salem Rex Sox, 7:05pm ET (Chase Allsup vs. Luis Cohen)