Triple-A: Worcester Red Sox 6, Norfolk Tides 2
It was another tough start for Cade Povich. The lefty served up six runs on 10 hits, one walk, and four strikeouts across 6.1 innings. Most of the damage (four out of six runs) came in a nightmarish sixth inning. The bullpen was fine behind him. Nick Raquet record five outs, including three strikeouts, without allowing a run. Yaramil Hiraldo tossed a perfect ninth inning.
The Norfolk lineup did little in support. They collected five hits, all of which were singles. Jud Fabian and José Barrero had
two hits each. Creed Willems went 1-for-4 with a run scored. Enrique Bradfield Jr. was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Heston Kjerstad went hitless, walked once, and struck out twice.
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 9, Altoona Curve (Pirates) 2
Caden Hunter absolutely dominated in his Double-A debut. The former sixth-round pick tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, walking two, and striking out 10. His ERA for the season, which stretches across three different levels, is now 1.32. He could be someone to keep an eye on. Jeisson Cabrera was charged with both of the runs against Chesapeake in his lone frame of work. Tyson Neighbors then worked a scoreless ninth inning to wrap up the win.
Every member of the Baysox lineup reached base at least once in this game. Willy Vazquez led the team with three hits, including two doubles, two walks, two runs, and two RBI. Thomas Sosa had two hits, one of which was his 12th home run of the season, to go with two runs and two RBI. Griff O’Ferrall added two hits, a walk, a stolen base, two runs scored, and an RBI. Wehiwa Aloy went 1-for-5 with a strikeout and a run scored as he gets his feet wet in Double-A.
High-A: Frederick Keys 7, Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) 6 – Game 1 – F/8
RJ Austin had himself a nice game atop the Frederick lineup. The centerfielder collected a double, a triple, and three RBI, though he was caught trying to steal home. Braylin Tavera hit his 11th home run of the season. Fernando Peguero had two hits, including a double, walked once, stole a base, scored a run, and drove in the winning run with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning.
It was a mixed bag of results for the Keys pitching staff. Yeiber Cartaya started but lasted just four innings, allowing five runs on three hits (all home runs), three walks, and three strikeouts. Braeden Sloan worked 1.2 innings and gave up one unearned run while striking out three. Bradley Brehmer and Trent Turzenski then combined for 2.1 shutout frames to end the game.
High-A: Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) 12, Frederick Keys 6 – Game 2 – F/7
The second game of the day for Frederick was a tough one for their pitching staff. Six different arms worked the rubber, and all but one of them had a relatively rough day at the office. Todd Kniebbe was the lone pitcher to succeed. He tossed a shutout inning and struck out one. The other five all recorded five outs or fewer and allowed at least one earned run.
There was some good news out of the lineup. Specifically, Randal Diaz had a big game. He hit his eighth home run of the season and collected his 12th double of the year while driving in two runs. Colin Tuft and Andrés Nolaya also homered in this one. It was Nolaya’s first homer at the level after his recent promotion. Leandro Arias added a two-hit night, which included a double and an RBI.
Low-A: Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) 10, Delmarva Shorebirds 1 – Game 1 – F/7
This was a performance that Esteban Mejia may want to forget. He started the game and allowed six runs without recording a single out. The 19-year-old’s had several tough starts this summer, but this stands out as, by far, the worst of his career. Francisco Morao gave the Shorebirds a chance with 4.2 solid innings of relief in which he gave up just one run and struck out four. But the two other relievers couldn’t hold the line as the Crawdads scored three more times in the final 2.1 innings of the game.
It didn’t really matter though, because Delmarva’s offense did not show up in Game 1. They had one hit and one walk. Miguel Rodrìguez had the hit, a single. DJ Layton had the walk and the lone run scored. Jordan Sanchez had the team’s only RBI, which came on a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 4, Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) 1 – Game 2 – F/7
Credit to the Shorebirds for bouncing back in their second game of the day. The pitching staff was on point in this one. Andrew Herbert gave up just one run over five innings while striking out four. His ERA is down to 2.86. Michael Caldon was called on for the two-inning save, which he delivered in fine fashion. The righty struck out three and walked one across two shutout frames.
Two of Delmarva’s runs came on solo homers. Layton went deep in the first inning, and Stiven Martinez left the yard in the fourth. Jaiden Lo Re drove in the other two runs with a third-inning single. The team was efficient considering the limited number of opportunities they created. As a group they were 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position to help earn the win and split the double-header.
Thursday’s Schedule
Norfolk: vs Worcester, 6:35. Starter: Nestor German (5-4, 3.91 ERA)
Chesapeake: at Altoona, 6:00 pm. Starter: Sebastian Gongora (8-5, 3.93 ERA)
Frederick: vs Wilmington, 7:00 pm. Starter: Christian Rodriguez (0-0, -.— ERA)
Delmarva: vs Hickory, 7:05 pm. Starter: KK Clark (0-0, -.— ERA)
