It was a clean sweep for the minor league teams as they won all five of the games they played, including both ends of a double-header for Chesapeake.
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 10, Nashville Sounds (Brewers) 6 – F/10
The Tides benefitted from 13 hits, nine walks, and three Nashville errors to score 10 runs in this extra-inning win.
Tyler O’Neill continued his rehab, batting second and playing right field. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a strikeout. Luis Vázquez led the offense with three hits, including a three-run home run. TT Bowens singled, tripled, and walked. Dylan Beavers singled, walked, stole a base, and scored once. Jud Fabian reached base three times. David Bañuelos smacked his first home run of the season off of old friend Bruce Zimmermann.
Cameron Weston turned in a nice start for the O’s. Over five innings he allowed two runs on five hits, three walks, and four strikeouts. Kade Strowd struggled in relief, coughing up four runs on six hits in just two-thirds of an inning. But from there it was smooth sailing. Grant Wolfram worked a scoreless inning, and then Roansy Contreras dominated for three frames, striking out five in the process to earn the win.
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 4, Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) 3 – Game 1 – F/8
Game 1 of the doubleheader saw the Baysox come back from a three-run deficit to get the extra-innings victory.
Trace Bright was the starter for Chesapeake, but he lasted just three innings and allowed all three of the runs, two of which were earned. The bullpen took over from there. Houston Roth, Preston Johnson, and Keagan Gillies combined for five scoreless innings of relief. Johnson was the standout. He worked three hitless innings, walked four, and struck out five.
The Baysox offense produced their four runs off of six hits (all singles) and six walks. Frederick Bencosme reached base twice, but struggled on the bases. He was caught stealing once and picked off the other time. Creed Willems and Max Wagner both recorded a base hit and a run scored. Silas Ardoin walked four times and scored a run.
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 2, Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) 1 – Game 2
The Baysox completed the doubleheader sweep with another comeback, this time bouncing back from just a one-run gap.
Adam Retzbach went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. His OPS on the season is up to a team-high .902. The team’s only other hits were singles from Willems and Anthony Servideo. Tavian Josenberger walked and stole two bases.
It was a group effort on the pitching side. Four different hurlers appeared in this game. Juan Nuñez stuck around for the longest, tossing 2.2 innings in which he allowed one run, walked three, and struck out six. Edgar Portes, Yaqui Rivera, and Gerald Ogando then combined for 4.1 shutout frames to get a win in the nightcap.
High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 1, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) 0
Aberdeen cashed in on a great performance from the pitching staff, led by starter Blake Money. The LSU product delivered 5.1 scoreless innings in which he struck out six and walked just one to earn the win. Levi Stoudt, on a rehab assignment, worked 1.2 perfect innings. And Wyatt Cheney nabbed his second save of the season with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
There was less to be impressed by on the offensive side of things. They went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, struck out 14 times, and worked six walks. Their lone run scored on an Aneudis Mordán sac fly to bring in Jake Cunningham. Mordán, Cunningham, and Ethan Anderson had one hit apiece. Anderson’s double was their only extra-base knock. Vance Honeycutt went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 6, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs) 3
The Shorebirds managed to score six runs without the help of an extra-base hit. All 11 of their hits were singles. They added to that five walks and two stolen bases. Their 4-for-11 line with runners in scoring position was helpful to make the most of their opportunities. Edwin Amparo led the lineup with three hits. Raylin Ramos singled twice, scored twice, and drove in two runs. Alfredo Velásquez also had two hits and scored twice.
Luis De León made his season debut as the starting pitcher. He lasted just 1.1 innings and allowed a run before handing the ball to Jake Cravey. Cravey was the most effective pitcher of the day, going 4.2 shutout innings and striking out three. Adrián Delgado struggled after him, giving up two runs in 1.1 innings. But then Simon Leandro was able to lock things down for the final 1.2 innings to earn the win.
Thursday’s Schedule
Norfolk: at Nashville, 7:35 pm. Starter: Thaddeus Ward (2-2, 5.34 ERA)
Chesapeake: at Portland, 6:00 pm. Starter: Ryan Long (2-0, 2.35 ERA)
Aberdeen: at Jersey Shore, 6:35 pm. Starter: Riley Cooper (0-0, 3.75 ERA)
Delmarva: at Myrtle Beach, 6:35 pm. Starter: Jack Crowder (0-0, -.— ERA)