Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 7, Memphis Redbirds 3
Trey Gibson delivered his best start of the season, and the Tides used a four-run 5th to score a series-opening win against Memphis.
The Orioles’ No.2 pitching prospect got off to a rocky start against the Redbirds, allowing a triple to the first batter he faced and staking Memphis to an early 1-0 lead after an RBI groundout. Working out of jams became a habit for Gibson, as he erased a lead-off single in the 2nd with a double play ball, and got out of a two-on, two-out jam with a groundout in the 3rd.
After a 1-2-3 4th inning, Gibson found himself in more trouble in the 5th. He allowed the leadoff hitter to reach via error, erased him on another double play ball, walked the bases loaded and then stranded all three runnerrs on an inning-ending strikeout. The Houdini act was his last contribution Tuesday night, as he finished with a line of 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB and 6 K.
Gibson’s ability to keep runs off the board set the stage for the rally that helped Norfolk take the win. Up 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 5th, José Barrero started the rally with a one-out walk. Back-to-back singles from Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Creed Willems drove home Barrero and grew the Norfolk lead t0 3-1. Jhonkensy Noel and Willy Vasquez collected two more RBI singles before Noel scored on a wild pitch to give the Tides a 6-1 advantage.
Despite the win, there was some bad news that came out of Norfolk. Jackson Holliday was forced to leave the game after striking out in the 1st and showing clear signs of discomfort in his surgically repaired right hand.
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 7, Akron RubberDucks 0
The Baysox pitching staff put together their best game of the season, limiting the RubberDucks to one hit as they shut out Akron in the series opener.
Former 5th-round pick Trace Bright got the start for Chesapeake on Tuesday and turned a shaky start into a dominant outing. During the top of the 1st, Bright walked the leadoff hitter and issued two more free passes to load the bases with two outs. However, he escaped the jam by striking out Joe Lampe looking for his first K of the day.
From there, Bright went into cruise control. From that punchout in the top of the 1st until another strikeout of Lampe to end the 4th, the 25-year-old set 10 straight RubberDucks and seven via strikeout. He ended his evening when he issued a leadoff walk to start the 5th, closing his line at 4+ IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 BB and 7 K.
Akron would pick up its only hit of the day off Micah Ashman via a two-out single from Jose Devers in the 5th. The trio of Ashman, Yaqui Rivera and Christian Heberholz proceeded to set down 13 of the next 15 hitters they faced, completely shutting down the RubberDucks. After Bright’s strong start, the pen delivered an equally strong performance, finishing with combined totals of 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 7 K.
Offensively, the Baysox were buoyed by a two-run homer in the 3rd and a five-insurance-run rally in the 8th. Chesapeake got on the board in the 3rd after Alfredo Velásquez walked and scored when Brandon Butterworth launched his second homer in as many games over the left field fence.
The Baysox would grow that lead in the 8th thanks to some bloops and a blast. Ethan Anderson kicked off the rally with a leadoff walk, and moved to third when Griff O’Ferrall reached on an error. Frederick Bencosme then drove home Anderson on an RBI groundout to third, before O’Ferral came home on an RBI single from Tavian Josenberger. Carter Young then capped off the scoring with a three-run homer to left center to punctuate a dominant Baysox victory
High-A: Frederick Keys 13, Wilmington Blue Rocks 5
The Keys used a six-run 3rd inning and a five-run 7th to blast their way past the Blue Rocks and start the series with a W.
After falling behind 2-o in the top of the 1st, the Keys quickly tied things in the bottom of the inning. Nate George worked a one-out walk, Payton Eeles was hit by a pitch and the two executed a double steal to move into scoring position. Wehiwa Aloy the n singled up the middle to drive both home and tie the game at two.
Aloy would then kickstart the rally in the 3rd that put the Keys ahead for good. Eeles worked a lead-off walk before Aloy blasted a ball over the center field fence to put Frederick up 4-2. Vance Honeycut then reached on an error and scored on a Victor Figueroa double. Colin Tuft then hit the Keys’ second two-run bomb of the inning to put Frederick up 7-2. The final run of the rally came after Ike Irish laced a double to center before scoring on a George single.
Frederick would pile on some more runs in the 7th to truly bury the Blue Rocks. Figueroa and Tuft each reached via walk, before Figueroa came around to score after a throwing error on a sac bunt attempt. Irish then drove home two runs on a single through the left side and late came home to score on a wild pitch. Aloy completed his Player of the Game performance by singling up the middle to drive hom George for Wilmington’s 13th run. The former Golden Spikes winner finished the game 3-for-5 with 5 RBI and a run scored.
The Keys also got a strong performance from right-hander Yeiber Cartaya to close the game. The 23-year-old out of Venezuela pitched the last four innings of the game, allowing only one hit and no runs, while walking four and striking out seven. He even got a save for his efforts, despite the large margin of victory.
Low-A: Wilson Warbirds 3, Delmarva Shorebirds 2
Delmarva didn’t get on the board until the 8th inning and they failed to earn a come-from-behind win over Wilson, dropping the series opener to the Warbirds.
Kiefer Lord was dominant for the Shorebirds, but ended up taking the loss thanks to a run he allowed in the 4th. With the game knotted at 0-0, Lord walked Wilson’s leadoff hitter, who then stole second. After allowing his only hit of the game, a single to Yannic Walther, Wilson scratched across their first run on a groundout to short. The groundout was the only out of Lord’s outing that didn’t come via strikeout, as the 23-year-old punched out 11 hitters over four innings of work.
The Warbirds would grow their lead to 3-0 in the 8th, scoring runs on a throwing error by Delmarva’s catcher and an RBI single. That set the stage for the Shorebirds’ failed comeback attempt. Luis Almeyda started the bottom of the 8th with a single. Braylon Whitaker then drove Almeyda home on a double to center, and later scored on a successful double steal of second and home. With the tying run on second, DJ Layton struck out to end the scoring threat with the Shorebirds down 3-2.
Stiven Martinez tried to start another rally in the 9th, reaching on a one-out single before being caught stealing trying to swipe second. That put Delmarva’s fate on the bat of Joshua Liranzo, who struck out swinging to end the game.
Wednesday’s Scheduled Games
Norfolk Tides vs. Memphis Redbirds, 6:35pm ET (Nestor German vs. TBD)
Chesapeake Baysox vs. Akron RubberDucks, 6:05pm ET (Evan Yates vs. Josh Hartle)
Frederick Keys vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks, 7:00pm ET (Joseph Dzierwa vs. Riley Maddox)
Delmarva Shorebirds vs. Wilson Warbirds, 7:05pm ET (Brayan Orrantia vs. Enderson Mercado)
