Triple-A: Gwinnett Stripers 6, Norfolk Tides 4
Norfolk took an early 2-0 lead, but immediately coughed it up and could not rally, falling in their series opener vs. Gwinnett.
It was a hot start for the Tides in Georgia on Tuesday, as they took a 2-0 lead before the Stripers could even bat. Michael Sani led off the top of the 1st with a walk and then moved to third on a Heston Kjerstad double. Johnathan Rodríguez would bring both runners home on a single through the left side as Norfolk took an early two-run advantage.
Starter Yaqui Rivera gave
that lead back in the bottom of the 1st, as he loaded the bases before getting an out, allowed a run on a double play ball, and then allowed two more runs after an RBI single and a steal of home. Down 3-2, River would allow another run in the 2nd thanks to an error. Gwinnett outfielder Tristan English reached on a one-out error by SS José Barrero and then came around to score on a Jim Jarvis single. Rivera allowed four runs in two innings Tuesday, but thanks to a pair of early errors, none of the runs were earned.
The Stripers would extend their lead to 5-2 with an RBI double in the 4th. Creed Willems and Luis Vázquez would each homer to cut into that lead and try and spark a Tides comeback. Willems’ solo shot in the top of the 6th cut the Gwinnett lead to 5-3, while Vázquez’s blast in the top of the 7th cut the deficit to one.
That’s the closest Norfolk would ever get, however, as the Stripers would tack a run back on their lead with a Rowdy Tellez RBI single in the bottom of the 8th. Down two in the top of the 9th, Vázquez would reach on a two-out single, only for Siani to strike out to end the game. Kjerstad, Willems and Vázquez led the way offensively for the Tides, each collecting two hits and combining for 13 total bases.
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 15, Akron RubberDucks 12
The Baysox used a seven-run 7th to sink the Ducks in a back-and-forth barn burner in Bowie.
Down 12-8 heading into the bottom of the 7th, Willy Vasquez started off the game-winning rally by reaching on an error. Thomas Sosa then singled to move Vasquez to second. Griff O’Ferrall tried to move both into scoring position with a sac bunt, only to reach on a throwing error that allowed Vasquez to score.
Now down 12-9, Frederick Bencosme would walk to load the bases before Tavian Josenberger struck out for the second out. Carter Young then walked to cut the deficit down to two. Aron Estrada almost ended the rally on a grounder to second, only for a throwing error to allow Estrada to reach and the Baysox to tie the game at 12.
With runners at first and third, Ethan Anderson slapped a double down the left field line to score both Young and Estrada, giving Chesapeake their first lead since the 3rd inning at 14-12. Vasquez would add an insurance run, singling through the left side for the Baysox’s final run of the evening.
Young and Thomas Sosa led the way with three hits apiece, while Young, Estrada, Anderson, Vasquez and O’Ferrall each collected a pair of RBIs. The 15 runs were Chesapeake’s second-highest output of the season, trailing only a 19-4 win over Erie last month.
High-A: Frederick Keys 7, Hudson Valley Renegades 3
Victor Figueroa and Vance Honeycutt led the way offensively for the Keys, who improved to 32-17 on the season after a series-opening win over the Renegades.
Fredericks got off to an early lead in the bottom of the 1st, as Enrique Bradfield Jr. worked a leadoff walk and scored on an RJ Austin RBI double. After Hudson Valley took the lead with a two-run 2nd, Honeycutt helped tie the game in the bottom of the inning. The outfielder led off the inning with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Colin Yeaman then dropped a bloop single into right field to score Honeycutt and tie the game at 2-2.
Figueroa then gave the Keys the lead for good with a blast in the bottom of the 3rd. The Frederick DH took a 2-1 ball left over the plate and blasted it over the center field fence for his 12th homer of the year. Two batters latter, Honeycutt added a long ball of his own. The former first-round pick got a first pitch he liked and smashed it the other way for his seventh HR this season.
The Renegades would cut the lead to 4-3 with a run in the top of the 7th, only for a trio of first-round picks to provide Frederick some insurance in the bottom of the inning. EBJ led off the inning with another walk before stealing second and third. Wehiwa Aloy then reached after being hit by a pitch and stole second to give Frederick two runners in scoring position. Ike Irsh then brought both home with a single to right.
Honeycutt would provide the final bit of insurance in the 8th, reaching on a single and then scoring on a Yasmil Bucce RBI groundout. The 2024 first-round pick finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs scored, an RBI, a homer and a stolen base.
Low-A: Delmarva Greenjackets 2, Delmarva Shorebirds 1
Despite a strong pitching performance, the Shorebirds’ offense couldn’t provide the runs they needed in Tuesday’s loss to the Greenjackets.
Starter Denton Biller got off to a rough start, allowing three doubles in the bottom of the 1st inning that saw Augusta take an early 2-0 lead. The 21-year-old right-hander locked in from there, only allowing three base runners in the next 1.2 innings while punching out five total.
That steadying of the ship wasn’t enough for a Delmarva offense that never got out of second gear Tuesday. The Shorebirds collected four hits against the Greenjackets—all doubles—but only one game with a runner on base. That double scored the Shorebirds’ only run of the evening, as Elvin Garcia worked a two-out walk in the 5th and scored on a two-bagger from Miguel Rodríguez.
Delmarva had a chance to tie the game in the 9th after Jordan Sanchez doubled down the left-field line with one out. However, Jose Perez and Joshua Liranzo both struck out to leave Sanchez stranded and put the final nails in the Shorebirds’ loss.
Wednesday’s scheduled games
Norfolk Tides at Gwinnett Stripers, 12:05pm ET (Trey Gibson vs. Elieser Hernández)
Chesapeake Baysox vs. Akron RubberDucks, 6:35pm ET (Joseph Dzierwa vs. Josh Hartle)
Frederick Keys vs. Hudson Valley Renegades, 7:00pm ET (Boston Bateman vs. Luis Serna)
Delmarva Shorebirds at Augusta Greenjackets, 7:05pm ET (Brayan Orrantia vs. Ethan Bagwell)
