More on Harvey's wild eighth inning and Mountcastle's MVP

WASHINGTON - On a night the Orioles shut out a hot-hitting Washington Nationals team and starter Aaron Brooks did the heavy lifting for six innings, right-hander Hunter Harvey's eighth inning will be the one remembered around Birdland for a while.

Pitching in just his fourth big league game, the kid was called on to protect a 2-0 lead on the road in the eighth. And against a team that was 15-4 in its last 19 games scoring 143 runs.

Harvey threw a couple of 98 mph fastballs to pinch-hitter Gerardo Parra and then got him to ground out on an 89 mph split-change. After Trea Turner tripled, Harvey battled Adam Eaton over eight pitches. After throwing him six fastballs and one changeup he struck him out on the splitter.

"It was great split," said manager Brandon Hyde. "From my angle it fell right off the table. If he gets that split going, it's going to be pretty special. We're going to try to keep him healthy and throw him out there on occasion."

With two outs and a man on third Harvey issued back-to-back walks to Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto. Not because he was wild, or was intentionally pitching around them, but because they were going to hit his pitch, a pitcher's pitch, or none at all.

"I just think he challenged him (Rendon) but didn't challenge him in the middle which was fantastic," said Hyde. "Did the same thing with Soto, who is another superstar player that is swinging the bat really well now too. Love the fact that after those walks, bases loaded, crowds loud, to be able to compose himself and make pitches to (Asdrúbal) Cabrera shows a lot of maturity."

Harvey went to a 1-2 count on Cabrera with the tying run at second and go-ahead run at first. Then he blew Cabrera away with a 99 mph heater.

So how has Harvey adapted to the back end of the bullpen at this level so quickly? He's thrown four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.

"Stuff. You like stuff? I like it. I like watching him. I like the stuff and he's going to continue to pitch every once in a while," Hyde said with a huge laugh.

He and the Orioles enjoyed that win. They've now won five of their last seven and are 2-1 this year against the Nationals and 41-32 in all-time series.

Mountcastle honored: For the first time since they've been the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate starting in 2007, Norfolk has the MVP in the International League.

Ryan Mountcastle, 22, got the award which was announced yesterday. He was also named the first baseman on the postseason IL All-Star team.

Mountcastle has hit .308/.340/.528 with 32 doubles, a triple, 25 homers, 79 runs, 80 RBIs and an .869 OPS. He leads the International League in hits (153) and total bases (262), and ranks tied for second in extra-base hits (58), fourth in RBIs, eighth in slugging and tied for 10th in home runs.

Several players in the O's clubhouse yesterday in Washington were excited for Mountcastle. He was their teammate this year on the farm.

Jace Peterson played 90 games with Norfolk and said Mountcastle's power plays throughout the ballpark.

"Absolutely," said Peterson. "He can get you in left, center and right, left-center, right-center. He can get you anywhere. Fastballs, curveballs, sliders, changeups, he's a great hitter. He's one of those guys that was born to hit. It was fun to play with him and fun to watch him and I'm very happy for him."

So can he put up similar offensive numbers with the Orioles?

"I think he'll hit here. I know he'll hit here," Peterson said. "Everyone has their share of struggles at some point. Pitchers up here tend not to miss too many spots. If you have something that they see, they'll go at it and try to expose it. I think he'll struggle at some point, every hitter does. But I think in the long run, his bat is going to continue to play no matter what."

Also yesterday, in addition to Mountcastle's award, the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds (87-45), who have the best record in the South Atlantic League, placed two players and two staff members on the postseason SAL All-Star team.

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, the Orioles' No. 1 pick in 2018, was voted as the league's Most Outstanding MLB Prospect, as well as its top right-handed pitcher. Shortstop Adam Hall was named to the utility infield slot. Pitching coach Justin Ramsey picked up Coach of the Year honors and manager Kyle Moore was crowned SAL Manager of the Year.

Delmarva won again last night 7-0 over Lakewood as Gray Fenter threw five perfect innings with 11 strikeouts. He improved to 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA and has retired 27 straight batters dating to his last start. Adley Rutschman blasted a 372-foot, two-run homer, his first with Delmarva. It had an exit velocity of 105 mph.

Double-A Bowie won 3-1 at Reading as Brett Cumberland hit a solo homer in the eighth breaking a 1-1 tie. With the win Bowie moved into first place by 1/2 game over Erie, which got rained out. Bowie has six games left and Erie has seven, including a doubleheader today.

Short-season Single-A Aberdeen lost 2-0 at Lowell. The IronBirds (39-30) are one game out of first place and now tied for the wild card spot in the New York-Penn League.