Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 5, Durham Bulls (Rays) 2
It was a solid day for the Norfolk offense. They collected 12 hits, including five for extra bases, to go along with three walks. Enrique Bradfield Jr., José Barrero, Bryan Ramos, and Ryan Noda had two hits apiece. Noda homered for the second time on the season, scored twice, and drove in two runs. Bradfield, Ramos, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Willy Vasquez each doubled.
Trey Gibson got the start on the bump. He lasted five innings and allowed only two runs, both of which came on a fourth-inning
home run. Gibson, arguably the O’s top pitching prospect, gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out six. The bullpen was great behind him. Keegan Akin made his first rehab appearance, tossing a shutout inning with two strikeouts. Andrew Magno, Enoli Paredes, and Alex Pham combined for three more scoreless frames to wrap up the game.
Double-A: New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) 20, Chesapeake Baysox 1 – Game 1
Sometimes a game is so bad that there is no real need to do a deeper analysis. You flush it and move on to the next game. This was one such game. The Baysox allowed 20 runs on 17 hits and seven walks. The 6th inning was particularly bad. The Fisher Cats sent 16 batters to the plate, collected nine hits, walked three times, hit two home runs, and scored 12 runs in that single inning. Each of the Baysox pitchers were bad. Let’s move on.
There was no saving grace on offense. Thomas Sosa and Anderson De Los Santos had two hits apiece, including a double for Sosa. Brandon Butterworth was 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base.
Double-A: New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) 10, Chesapeake Baysox 8 – Game 2
Game 2 was not as miserable, but there were still frustrations to be had. For example, it’s actually difficult to lose a game when you walk 11 times and steal five bases (especially when playing just seven innings), and yet the Baysox managed to do it. That’s what happens when you go 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and leave 10 runners on base. Don’t blame Butterworth. He went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Griff O’Ferrall had a 1-for-3 game with two walks and a run scored. Adam Retzbach had the Baysox’s only extra-base knock, a double, to go along with two walks, a run, and an RBI.
None of the Chesapeake pitchers had a “good” game, but some were worse than others. Micah Ashman allowed two runs and struck out four over two innings. Yaqui Rivera coughed up two more runs in his 2.1 innings. But it was Tyson Neighbors that had the toughest day on the bump. The righty was charged with six runs on five hits, one walk, and a home run in just one inning of work.
High-A: Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) 10, Frederick Keys 2 – Game 1
This game was a continuation of one that got halted by rain in the second inning on Tuesday. The two teams would finish nine innings here, and then play just seven frames in the night cap.
Twine Palmer had started and allowed four runs in two innings on Tuesday, but did not return to the mound on Wednesday. Instead, Yeiber Cartaya stepped in to provide length, and he would be the highlight of the game for Frederick. Over 4.2 innings Cartaya struck out seven, walked two, and allowed just one run, which came on a solo homer. The relievers that followed were a mixed bag. Joe Glassey gave up two runs (one earned) and recorded just one out. Hans Crouse also only got one out, but gave up three earned runs. Jacob Cravey cleaned things up with 1.2 scoreless innings and stranding the two runners he inherited.
The Keys’ bats did nothing following the restart of this game. The two runs they scored came on Tuesday, and both were on solo homers from Ike Irish and Victor Figueroa. Nate George did add a pair of hits and a stolen base. Everyone else was quiet, and the team as a whole went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
High-A: Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) 7, Frederick Keys 3 – Game 2
The offense was a bit better for the Keys in Game 2, scoring three times early before they were shutout between innings four and seven. RJ Austin was responsible for most of the damage. He had a double, a triple, and two runs scored. Irish added a single, a stolen base, and a run. Figueroa and Wehiwa Aloy had the team’s two RBI of the game. Colin Yeaman went 1-for-3 with a stolen base.
Frederick only needed two pitchers to get through the second game of the day. The starter, Carson Dorsey, had a tough game. Over five innings he allowed seven runs (four earned) on eight hits, two walks, a strikeout, and three home runs. His season ERA ballooned to 8.00. Eccel Correa, on the other hand, put in a nice effort. He tossed the final two innings of the game, keeping the Renegades from scoring and striking out two.
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 7, Fredericksburg Nationals 5
Delmarva did some damage with the bats in this one. Five of the their nine hits went for extra bases. Juan Ortega hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the eighth inning. Félix Amparo, Raylin Ramos, and Luis Almeyda (twice) each doubled. All of this despite Cobb Hightower’s seven-game hit streak coming to end as he went 0-for-4, though he is still batting .406 on the season.
The Shorebirds used two pitchers. Kiefer Lord was great, tossing five innings of one-run ball while striking out eight. He has now struck out 21 across 13 innings this season as the 2023 draft pick looks to finally get his career going after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in 2024. Denton Biller had a less impressive outing, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits, no walks, three strikeouts, and two home runs.
Thursday’s Schedule
Norfolk: at Durham, 6:45 pm. Starter: Nestor German (0-1, 4.97 ERA)
Chesapeake: at New Hampshire, 6:03 pm. Starter: Luis De León (1-1, 6.00 ERA)
Frederick: vs Hudson Valley, 7:00 pm. Starter: Joseph Dzierwa (2-0, 1.38 ERA)
Delmarva: at Fredericksburg, 6:35 pm. Starter: Brayan Orrantia (0-0, 6.43 ERA)
