O's minors game blog: Bowie, Delmarva open series tonight

BOWIE, Md. - Yep, we have a game blog for Game 1 tonight for Single-A Delmarva and Double-A Bowie. It works well on the Orioles' off night, so fans can join in and leave questions and comments during tonight's respective playoff games.

Starting with Bowie, I'm here for Game 1 coverage. The Baysox (76-64) host Harrisburg (76-63) in Game 1 of a best-of-five league semifinal series. Bowie also hosts Game 2 tomorrow night before the scene shifts to Harrisburg for the remainder of the series starting Friday.

Right-hander Michael Baumann (6-2, 2.31 ERA) is the Game 1 starter for the Baysox. Since moving up from Single-A Frederick to Bowie, he's thrown 70 innings allowing 21 walks with 65 strikeouts. He has allowed a .184 batting average and owns a WHIP of 0.94. On July 16, Baumann pitched a no-hitter against Harrisburg - the same team he faces in Game 1 tonight.

Harrisburg, a Nationals' affiliate, will start 27-year-old right-hander Kyle McGowin (1-1, 2.51 ERA). He has pitched in the majors for Washington in parts of the last two seasons and has made six starts this year for Harrisburg, none against the Baysox.

The winner of the Bowie-Harrisburg series faces the Trenton-Reading winner for the Eastern League championship, a title Bowie last won in 2015.

Tonight's Bowie starting lineup

CF Cedric Mullins
LF Ryan McKenna
2B Anderson Feliz
C Carlos Pérez
DH Yusniel Diaz
3B Jesmuel Valentin
SS Mason McCoy
1B Preston Palmeiro
RF T.J. Nichting

In the South Atlantic League, Single-A Delmarva (90-48) plays at Hickory (83-52) tonight in Game 1 of a best-of-three semifinal series. The Shorebirds will host Game 2 Friday night and Game 3, if necessary, on Saturday.

Tonight Delmarva sends its ace, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (10-4, 2.68 ERA) to the mound in the series opener. Rodriguez has not allowed a hit or run in three of his last four starts. He faced Hickory on July 14 allowing two hit and one run over five innings.

Catcher Adley Rutschman, the O's first overall pick, is batting just .154 (6-for-39) in 12 games for the Shorebirds, but has hit two homers with six RBIs over his past six gams.

Tonight's Delmarva starting lineup

SS Adam Hall
RF Johnny Rizer
C Adley Rutschman
LF Jaylen Ferguson
CF Shayne Fontana
DH J.C. Encarnacion
3B Ryne Ogren
1B Seamus Curran
2B Andrew Fregia

Mills honored: Former O's player and bullpen coach Alan Mills has been named manager of the year in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Mills guided the GCL Orioles to a league-best 38-15 mark in his first full season as manager. Their .717 winning percentage was the best in GCL Orioles history.

The @shorebirds open on the road, but there is playoff baseball tonight in #Birdland @BowieBaysox ... big arm on the hill for us for Game 1 -- see you there!

-- Mike Elias (@MElias) September 4, 2019