The IronBirds’ new additions went off in Aberdeen’s last game of the season, including Vance Honeycutt, whose RBI single scored three.
Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (CWS) 9, Norfolk Tides 7
This was a close one. Tied 7-7 in the eighth inning, the game ended with Nick Vespi giving up a run in the eighth (on a sac fly), Luis González allowing a run in the ninth (by home run), and Norfolk unable to mount a response.
Too bad, because Justin Armbruester pitched well, tossing five innings with a two-run home run his only blemish. But Carlos Tavera went boom in the seventh, allowing a walk, single and double. Nolan Hoffman relieved him and made things worse, walking in a run and allowing a seventh Charlotte run to come home on what was called a passed ball by Samuel Basallo.
That was the bad news. On the plus side, what a hot streak Niko Goodrum is on lately. The July pickup drove in five runs on Sunday with a pair of home runs. He hit a three-run bomb in the first inning and a two-run blast in the third. Hudson Haskin chipped in with a solo home run in the second. A seventh run scored on a wild pitch.
Jud Fabian had two hits. So did J.D. Davis, including a double. Basallo went 0-for-3 and struck out three times. Oof.
Double-A: Harrisburg Senators (WAS) 7, Bowie Baysox 3
The bullpen had a no-good, terrible, very-bad day, turning a 3-2 Bowie lead entering the eighth into a 7-3 loss. It must be said, though, that two poorly-timed errors by third baseman Ryan Higgins allowed the leadoff hitter to reach in both the eighth and the ninth. Houston Roth allowed two runs to come home in the eighth on the Higgins error, a triple and a single. Similar story for closer Keegan Gillies, who with two outs allowed a single, walk, single and double to make it 7-3.
Too bad, because starter Trace Bright had an excellent Sunday. The 2022 fifth-round pick went six innings for the first time in his pro career. He gave up just four hits and two runs, one earned, while walking out two and striking out three.
The Baysox offense went mostly missing, though. They had only five hits, one of which was a Dylan Beavers home run. Frederick Bencosme singled in a run and scored a third thanks to a Douglas Hodo double. Hodo drove in a second run with an RBI groundout.
High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 4, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (PHI) 3
Aberdeen ended its season on Sunday with a win and an MiLB single-season record 361 steals, which is cool.
The IronBirds scored all four of their runs in the third inning, courtesy of the Orioles’ newest draft picks, and they made them stand up. Vance Honeycutt hit a bases-loaded single, and three runs came home courtesy of a throwing error by the Jersey Shore third baseman. Ethan Anderson drove in the IronBirds’ fourth with a single.
In total, Aberdeen had eleven hits on the day. That included two apiece for Griff O’Ferrall, Honeycutt, Aneudis Mordán, and a rehabbing Heston Kjerstad, who singled twice and walked.
Pitchers Luis de León and Michael Forrest each tossed three-plus innings and allowed two and one runs, respectively, and Preston Johnson and Yaqui Rivera held the line in short outings.
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 9, Carolina Mudcats (MIL) 3
A day after getting blown out by fourteen runs, the Shorebirds put together a complete effort in their last game of the season. Blake Money threw five scoreless innings and struck out seven. The twelfth-rounder from 2023 ended the season on a roll, with a 1.86 ERA in 11 second-half appearances. Yay! Eddy Alberto, Kenny Leiner and Joe Glassey closed out the game, although Leiner allowed three runs in ⅔ of an inning.
The offense racked up 10 hits and went deep three times. Braylin Tavera hit a three-run bomb, catcher Colin Tuft homered, singled and doubled, and outfielder Edwin Amparo hit a two-run home run. Edrei Campos also had a multi-hit day.
Tuesday’s Schedule
- Norfolk @ Durham, 6:05. Starter: TBD
- Bowie @ Erie, 6:05. Starter: TBD