Triple-A: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins) 5, Norfolk Tides 2 – F/7
Game 1 of the double-header was neck-and-neck until the final frame, when Jacksonville scored three times to win going away.
Norfolk starter Nestor German had himself a solid day. Through the first four innings the only run he allowed was a solo homer in the second inning. Then he got into some trouble in the fifth inning, where he struck out the first two batters and then walked the bases loaded. He was yanked in favor of Thaddeus Ward. The reliever walked the first batter he faced to make it 2-1
Jacksonville at the time, and then got a strike out to escape without further damage. Scott Blewett worked a perfect sixth inning, and then the game was handed to Jose Espada in the seventh. Espada had a tough frame: three runs on two hits, a walk, two stolen bases, and a wild pitch.
The Tides offense was putrid. They managed just one hit, but were saved by five walks and a trio of stolen bases, two of which were from Vimael Machín. Livan Soto had their lone hit, and the runs were scored by Machín and Noda. Adley Rutschman began his rehab with an 0-for-3 and a strikeout. Enrique Bradfield Jr. went 0-for-2 with an RBI sac fly and two strikeouts.
Triple-A: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 3, Norfolk Tides 1 – F/7
Rutschman did not appear in Game 2 after catching the opener. The lineup could have used the help. This time they scored just the one run on three hits, three walks, and eight strikeouts. Their only run came in on a solo homer by José Barrero. Jordyn Adams added a triple. Gary Sánchez walked twice.
At least the pitching was pretty good. Cameron Weston was charged with only one earned run and three total runs overall while giving up five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. One of those runs came after Weston had exited the game in favor or Cameron Foster. Foster entered with the bases loaded and then walked former Orioles farmhand Matthew Etzel to put the Jumbo Shrimp up 3-0 at the time. That would be the end of the scoring for the visitors. Foster’s official line was a hitless, scoreless inning of work. Colin Selby added a shutout frame, and Dylan Heid got one out in the seventh inning.
Thursday’s Schedule
Norfolk: vs Jacksonville, 12:05 pm. Starter: Trey Gibson (1-3, 8.75 ERA)
