Caught the middle game of a 3 game set between the O’s AA affiliate & the B-Mets.  The B-Mets were no-hit for 6-2/3 in a 4-0 loss that featured a Luis Castillo sighting and a couple of silver linings.  Some observations:

Bowie Baysox righty Jason Berken dominated with a 93-95 mph fastball only allowed 5 balls to leave the infield in 7ip.

F!   Opened the game by walking on 5 pitches, flied to left on a 7 pitch AB, hit a deep rocket that was caught in deep center field and struck out on an 83 mph curve ball in the 8th inning.  In the field he somehow let Jonathan Tucker stretch a single into a double on a fairly hard hit three hop single to him in center – F!’s throw to 2nd was on the mark but a full step late.  Not sure if he was slow in getting to the ball but no one in the park thought the hit had a chance to be a two-bagger.  The next batter followed with a similar single to center which F! fielded cleanly but then bobbled in his glove while trying to make the exchange.  He never made any attempt to throw out the scoring runner instead making a soft-toss to 2b.

Luis Castillo was in the line-up re-starting his interrupted rehab stint.  For anyone who hoped some time off would refresh him should think again.  He cost Tobi Stoner six pitches and a run in the second when he threw away the relay on what should have been an inning ending DP.  Batting lefty he grounded twice to the left side of the infield and hit a soft-liner to 3rd before getting the B-Mets 2nd single on a clean liner to CF in the 9th.  He was (un)involved in another unique play I’ll get to when recapping Shawn Bowman.  Luis also blew off autograph seekers.

Shawn Bowman grounded out going the other was twice and was caught looking at a 95 mph fastball in the 7th with two runners in scoring position.  He needs to dramatically cut down his strikeouts but his glove is ready to go.  He made an amazing on-his-knees stop of a smoking short hopper and made a laser throw to second to turn a certain double into a double play.  But on the play the SS took the relay from third baseman Bowman – where was Luis Castillo?  Can’t say I know I was too focused on the amazing stop to see if he was just shifted towards first because the batter was left-handed or just too slow to get to the bag – but I don’t remember seeing a 5-6-3 DP before.

Mike Carp followed two walks with two strikeouts – the first swinging at a 93 mph heater and the second on an 81 mph curve.  His face lit up and he responded, “I hope so” when a fan yelled to him before the game “Mike, better start packing for NY in September.”  It’s tough to make any observations about B-Mets hitters because Berken was dominant – he only allowed 5 balls out of the infield in his 7 innings of work.

Tobi Stoner works a high-seventies overhand curve off a high 80s-low90s sinking fastball.  According to the stadium gun he was 90-91 11x, 92 once & 93 once, 27 fastballs 87-89, 28 curves ranging from 71-79, a handful of low 80’s pitches which I couldn’t ID from my angle.  The leadoff batter was the only walk Toby allowed against 4 strike outs but I only counted five swing and misses.  Either Toby is an extreme contact pitcher or the Bay Sox are extremely patient.  Of his 9 hits four were for extra bases, he induced two double plays but would have had three if not for Castillo’s error on the pivot.  If you were allowed to assume a DP the first run would have been unearned.  Stoner allowed base runners in 5 of his 6 innings and had runners in scoring position in 4 of them.  The two double plays limited the damage and he got 9 of his 18 outs via GB, 4 ks and 5 on fly balls.  He fought hard and didn’t let the game get out of hand but at least last night he’s clearly a contact pitcher who gets very few swing and misses.