Billy Cook mashed, while three Delmarva pitchers stood out.
Triple-A: Nashville (Brewers) 3, Norfolk Tides 2 – F/7 (Game 1)
In Game 1, Norfolk went down 3-0 in the second inning and never could mount the offense to dig back out. It was one ugly inning: with one out, Carlos Tavera loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk, then got a ground ball to first, where Coby Mayo happened to be playing. Unfortunately, instead of an inning-ending double play, Mayo made a wild throw and three runs scored.
In the second inning, Billy Cook singled and scored on a Hudson Haskin single that Haskin tried to stretch into a double. The Tides got a second run in the third when Jackson Holliday was hit by a pitch, Connor Norby singled, and Garrett Cooper hit a sac fly. Holliday, who started at second base, also reached on a walk.
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 9, Nashville (Brewers) 1 – F/7 (Game 2)
In Game 2, a makeup for a Saturday rainout, Norfolk had their way with Nashville pitching—well, more accurately, Billy Cook did. Cook drove in five runs by himself, launching a three-run home run and also a two-run bomb for good measure. Jackson Holliday had another good game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Norby went 1-for-3 and scored.
An easy day for Bruce Zimmermann and Justin Armbruester, who threw two scoreless innings apiece. Cade Strowd, Corbin Martin and Nolan Hoffman each turned in an inning of work, Martin the only Tides pitcher to allow a run.
Double-A: Hartford (Rockies) 7, Bowie Baysox 1
Bowie got on the board first, then fell quiet. Jud Fabian supplied his team’s biggest hit and only run, going yard in the first inning. After that, silencio, although Samuel Basallo did for 2-for-4. John Rhodes singled and walked.
Bowie starter Trace Bright got ambushed, walking the bases loaded in the second before giving up a two-run single, then walking one more hitter. Logan Rinehart came in to help, but it didn’t go great. Rinehart surrendered a second two-run single and one more run to leave it 6-1 Hartford after four innings. After that, a four-man unit of Bradley Brehmer, Dylan Heid, Houston Roth and Levi Stoudt held the Yard Goats to one run over five innings.
High-A: Wilmington (Nationals) 5, Aberdeen IronBirds 3
Aberdeen frittered away a certain victory by allowing four runs in the top of the ninth. Three separate pitchers were responsible for the collapse: Moisés Chance had already pitched three good innings, but he let two runners on. Graham Firoved let both score and walked three batters of his own. The game was still 3-3 when Kyle Vrbitsky gave up a game-winning two-run double.
That meltdown obscured a nice outing for starter Jackson Baumeister, who threw four innings and struck out eight, allowing just a solo home run.
As for offense, Douglas Hodo drove in two Aberdeen runs with a double. Maxwell Coates slugged a home run for the IronBirds’ third run. All but two IronBirds finished with a hit, including Luis Valdez, Mac Horvath, and Reed Trimble.
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 2, Down East (Rangers) 0
Delmarva pitched a gem. Three pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout, Nestor German (4 IP, 2 H, BB, 6 K), Juan Rojas (4 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 5 K), and Hayden Niemann (1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K).
Maikol Hernández scored both Delmarva runs: he was on third base with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth when Braylin Tavera was awarded a free pass, and he homered in the seventh inning to give his team a decisive 2-0 lead.
Tuesday’s Scheduled Games
- Norfolk: vs. Jacksonville, 6:35. Starters: TBD
- Bowie: @ Akron, 12:05. Starter: TBD
- Aberdeen: @ Jersey Shore, 6:05. Starter: TBD
- Delmarva: @ Fredericksburg, 7:05. Starter: TBD