Triple-A: Memphis Redbirds 11, Norfolk Tides 10 (F/1o)
The Tides launched five home runs against the Redbirds Tuesday, but couldn’t seal the win, losing in walk-off fashion after a blown save in the 9th.
Jeremiah Jackson hit the first of the long balls to pad the Tides’ lead in the 3rd. After a Ryan Noda RBI double pushed across two runs in the 2nd, Jackson launched a hanging sinker over the center field fence for a solo homer and a 3-1 lead. Sam Huff expanded the Norfolk lead in the 4th, golfing a low changeup over the left field fence for a three-run
blast that put the Tides up 6-2.
The Tides then clubbed three homers in the 5th to claw back after Memphis had taken the lead. Creed Willems started the barrage with a solo shot that tied the game at 7-7. Jose Barrero then put Norfolk on top, blasting a second consecutive solo homer to give the Tides a one-run advantage. Three batters later, Noda powered a two-run home run that gave Norfolk a 10-7 lead.
Norfolk remained in the lead until the bottom of the 9th, when Andrew Magno blew the save for the Tides. Magno walked the first batter he faced and then gave up a double to put the tying run in scoring position. Magno would respond by getting two outs, but then walked the bases loaded and gave up the game-tying single. After the Tides failed to score in the top of the 10th, the Redbirds completed the comeback win by walking off Norfolk in the bottom of the inning.
Box Score
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 11, Richmond Flying Squirrels 3
The Baysox scored at least one run in each of the first six innings and all nine starters got a hit as they routed the Flying Squirrels to open their last series of the season.
Vance Honeycutt started the scoring in the 1st, launching his fourth Double-A home run to right-center for a 1-0 lead. Chesapeake would then pile on five runs in the 2nd to break the game open. A Griff O’Ferrall leadoff double followed by a Tavian Josenberger single started the scoring. The Baysox then loaded the bases on back-to-back walks before bringing in their third run via balk. Ethan Anderson then unloaded the bases, smashing a three-run homer to right-center for his 20th long ball of the season.
Aron Estrada started another rally in the 3rd with a leadoff walk, and then came around to score after singles from O’Ferrall and Anderson De Los Santos. O’Ferrall turned run producer in the 4th, as he singled to left with runners on second and third to drive in the Baysox’s eighth run of the game.
Honeycutt launched his second homer of the game with two outs in the 5th, pushing the Chesapeake lead to 9-3. Estrada then joined in on the fireworks display, blasting a two-run homer in the 6th to extend the team’s lead to 11-3.
Top pitching prospect Caden Hunter also looked sharp in his likely last start of the season. Hunter worked a perfect 1st inning, punctuating the frame with a strikeout. The 22-year-old left-hander almost put up another scoreless inning in the 2nd, but an error allowed the inning to continue. Back-to-back two-out singles saw the Flying Squirrels tack on three unearned runs. Hunter would bounce back to pitch scoreless innings in the 3rd and 4th, finishing with a line of 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R (0 ER), 2 BB and 4 Ks.
Box Score
High-A: Frederick Keys 13, Greensboro Grasshoppers 1
The Keys dominated Game 1 of the South Atlantic North Division Series, highlighted by a nine-run 8th inning and a dominant outing from Boston Bateman.
Frederick came into the 8th inning up 4-1, having controlled the game from the 1st inning. DJ Layton would start the gigantic rally with a leadoff walk and moved to second on an Enddy Azocar single. Jaiden Lo Re then tried to bunt both runners over, only for a throwing error by the Grasshoppers’ pitcher to allow Lo Re to reach and both Layton and Azocar to score.
With the Keys now up 6-1, Yasmil Bucce was hit by a pitch and Randal Diaz walked to load the bases. Ty Head then singled on a hard grounder through the right side, pushing across Lo Re and Bucce to give Frederick a 8-1 advantage. Another single from Leandro Arias reloaded the bases before a third straight Keys single expanded the Keys’ lead to 9-1.
After giving up five runs without an out, Greensboro finally got the first out on an RBI groundout from Ryan Stafford. Layton struck out for the second out right before Azocar added a giant exclamation mark to the rally. The outfielder acquired in the Adley Rutschman trade attacked a 3-2 pitch left over the plate, blasting a three-run homer to right-center to put the Keys up 13-1.
Despite all the offense, the star of the Keys’ Game 1 effort was starter Boston Bateman. The towering left-hander allowed an early run in the 1st and then completely locked down the Grasshoppers from there. Bateman struck out the side in the 2nd for his first three Ks of the game.
After walking the leadoff hitter in the 3rd, Bateman struck out the next three hitters for another scoreless inning. His streak would reach seven straight outs via K in the 4th, before a flyout and pop-up ended the inning. The 20-year-old Bateman would pick up three more Ks in the 5th to finish his day with a line of 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB and 10 Ks.
Box Score
Wednesday’s scheduled games
Norfolk Tides at Memphis Redbirds, 1:05pm ET (Trace Bright vs. Pete Hansen)
Chesapeake Baysox at Richmond Flying Squirrels, 7:05pm ET (TBD vs. Charlie McDaniel)
