Only the IronBirds won, on the strength of a big offensive day for Adam Retzbach.
Triple-A: Lehigh Valley (PHI) 7, Norfolk Tides 6
More shoddy bullpen work by the Tides squandered an early lead. Two pitchers pitched the whole game, starting with Justin Armbruester (CC’s #20 prospect), who pitched four very nice innings and then went “boom,” surrendering a three-run home run in the fifth. Carlos Tavera pitched three innings and allowed three runs and seven hits, including a game-tying home run.
Not a bad day for the Norfolk bats, though! Billy Cook hit a third-inning grand slam to score top prospects Connor Norby (#7), Heston Kjerstad (#5) and Coby Mayo (#3). Cook’s average is up to .284 and his OPS .863.
GRAND SLAM ALERT
Billy Cook blasts the Tides’ sixth grand slam of the season to take the lead!#DefendTheHarbor pic.twitter.com/3zSVI1hsnL
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) June 23, 2024
It was a weird day for Kjerstad, who got hit by a pitch, then ejected—huh. But he’s still hitting .300 with a .998 OPS. Catcher Connor Pavolony reached four times on a 3-for-4 day with a walk, and the 23-year-old Noelberth Romero had two hits and an RBI.
Double-A: Altoona Curve (PIT) 7, Bowie Baysox 2
Bowie bats couldn’t overcome an impressive five innings from Altoona starter Po Yu Chen, or four Baysox pitchers each surrendering a run or more, or three fielding errors (two by Frederick Bencosme). Cameron Weston (2-5, 3.13 ERA) took the loss with three runs allowed in three innings. Ryan Hennen allowed a run on a double and a sac fly in the sixth, and Logan Henzman and Dan Hammer allowed consecutive home runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
It wasn’t a good day for the Bowie bats, with just six hits, only one a double, but don’t tell that to Frederick Bencosme, who had 2 RBI, or Jud Fabian, who had three hits, including that double.
High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 4, Wilmington Blue Rocks (WAS) 2
Adam Retzbach scored on his own fourth-inning triple, aided by a Wilmington throwing error, and also took a bases-loaded walk for a second RBI. Carter Young also scored on the play, and had two hits and an RBI of his own. Reed Trimble went 1-for-3, and Maxwell Costes and Randy Florentino picked up hits, too. Mac Horvath, hit on the wrist earlier this week, did not play.
Aberdeen pitchers were effective. Zach Fruit threw 3.2 innings and allowed just one run. He walked three, struck out four, and allowed one hit. Edgar Portes also threw 3.2, also allowing just a run. He gave up seven hits and struck out five. In between, Graham Firoved, Logan Rinehart and Luis Sánchez had scoreless outings of an inning or less.
Low-A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (HOU) 5, Delmarva Shorebirds 3
Centerfielder Aron Estrada and 3B Anderson de los Santos had standout days. Estrada went 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk, two runs scored, and a stolen base. De los Santos also tripled and drove in all three of his team’s runs.
Starting pitcher Graham Lloyd took a tough-luck loss (2.2 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 0 BB, K). Three runs scored in the first inning, but one came on a passed ball by catcher Cole Urman, the other on an error by second baseman Luis Valdez. Then Cooper Chandler gave up a solo homer. Juan Rojas allowed Fayetteville’s fifth run, on three hits and a groundout.
Tuesday’s Schedule
- Norfolk vs. Charlotte , 6:35. Starter: TBD
- Bowie @ Reading, 7:00. Starter: TBD
- Aberdeen vs. Brooklyn, 7:05. Starter: TBD
- Delmarva vs. Down East, 7:05. Starter: TBD