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Mountcastle plates career-high five runs

Top-ranked Orioles prospect smacks sixth homer, doubles
Ryan Mountcastle is hitting .367 with seven extra-base hits and 10 RBIs in 14 games in May. (Norfolk Tides)
May 19, 2019

After totaling two RBIs in his previous 10 games, Ryan Mountcastle put forth his professional best on Sunday.The top-ranked Orioles prospect homered, doubled and drove in a career-high five runs to lead Triple-A Norfolk to an 8-4 triumph over Indianapolis at Victory Field. He eclipsed his previous high of four RBIs, set

After totaling two RBIs in his previous 10 games, Ryan Mountcastle put forth his professional best on Sunday.
The top-ranked Orioles prospect homered, doubled and drove in a career-high five runs to lead Triple-A Norfolk to an 8-4 triumph over Indianapolis at Victory Field. He eclipsed his previous high of four RBIs, set most recently on April 20.

After a walk and a groundout in his first two plate appearances, Mountcastle broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning in dramatic fashion. Facing reliever Brandon Waddell with runners at second and third, MLB.com's No. 65 overall prospect fell into an 0-2 hole before belting a line drive over the right-center field fence for his sixth homer of the year.
Two innings later, the Florida native ripped a double to right off left-hander Sean Keselica, scoring Mason Williams and Anthony Santander to give the Tides a 7-4 lead. 
Gameday box score
Selected 36th overall as a shortstop in the first round of the 2015 Draft, Mountcastle has played all over the diamond as the Orioles find a position in which to slot him. He spent much of his Minor League career at third base but was moved across the infield at the beginning of the year and has become MLB.com's top-rated first base prospect.
"Playing third last year, I was getting used to the hot corner, balls get hit a little bit harder to me," he told Connor Rhiel of ABC's 13 News Now earlier this month. "At first base, you have a lot of time; you just need to keep it in front of you. Right now, I feel pretty comfortable and pretty confident over there."

In 275 innings at first base, Mountcastle has commited three errors in 269 total chances. His time at third has been limited -- he's logged 40 innings there -- and he also fills in as a designated hitter. The 22-year-old leads the International League with 52 hits, ranks fourth with 83 total bases and owns a .325/.353/.519 slash line. 
O's No. 15 prospect DJ Stewart doubled, while Jesús Sucre went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Williams, Santander and Jack Reinheimer drove in the other runs for Norfolk. Chris Lee (3-1) got the win in relief, despite allowing three runs on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Starter Luis Ysla gave up an unearned run on two hits over five frames, walking a season-high five and fanning two.
Eric Wood was 2-for-2 with a three-run homer and two runs scored for Indianapolis.

Katie Woo is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @katiejwoo.