Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 3, Durham Bulls 1
Cade Povich delivered his best Triple-A start of the season and Blaze Alexander made his first rehab appearance in the Tides’ series-opening win.
The 26-year-old lefty started off the game with back-to-back strikeouts before ending the inning on a runner caught stealing. After a 1-2-3 second, Povich ran into his only real trouble of the evening in the 3rd. After a leadoff single, he allowed another single with two outs that saw the runner race to third. Povich would strand both runners, though, picking
up his fifth strikeout to end the inning.
He came out even stronger in the 4th, striking out the side on 16 pitches. He’d repeat the feat in the 5th inning, striking out all three Bulls for his seventh punchout in a row. Povich went back out in the 6th, got the first two outs on a lineout and fly out and then was relieved by Yaqui Rivera. The southpaw finished with a final line of 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB and 11 Ks. The 11 punchouts were a Triple-A career high for Povich and only the second time he’s had double-digit strikeouts all season.
Alexander’s evening was not quite as successful, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. He did have one highlight, making an acrobatic tag to catch a runner stealing third in the 1st. Norfolk took an early lead thanks toa Ryan Noda solo shot in the 2nd to give the Tides a 1-0 lead.
Creed Willems then doubled that lead in the 5th, leading off the inning with a double and scoring two batters later on a Payton Eeles single. After Durham got a run back in the 6th, Ryan Noda provided the Tides with an insurance run in the 7th, walking and then coming around on a wild pitch.
Box Score
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 2, Harrisburg Senators 1
Caden Hunter was once again dominant for the Baysox and Anderson De Los Santos delivered a clutch homer to propel Chesapeake to victory Tuesday.
Hunter ran into some early traffic in the 1st after issuing a one-out walk followed by a single. The 22-year-old southpaw would strand both runners after a strikeout followed by a flyout ended the inning. The Orioles’ No.4 prospect then struck out the side in the 2nd, sandwiched around a one-out single.
Hunter started the 3rd with another pair of Ks before giving up a two-out double. He’d strand that runner as well, getting former top pick Elijah Green to pop out to close another scoreless inning. The lefty didn’t pick up a strikeout in the 4th, but pitched a 1-2-3 inning for his fourth straight scoreless frame.
Harrisburg would finally tag the lefty for a run in the 5th, after a one-out walk followed by a two-out single gave the Senators a runner in scoring position. A second straight single saw the Senators push across their only run of the game. Hunter would then strike out Green for the final out, closing his line at 5 IP, 5H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 8 Ks.
Offense was hard to come by for the Baysox, but they got just enough hits to seal their victory. They took an early lead in the 3rd thanks to a two-out rally. Wehiwa Aloy doubled to left to give Chesapeake a scoring threat, and Aron Estrada singled him home to give the Baysox a 1-0 lead. After Harrisburg tied the game in the 5th, it remained deadlocked until the 7th. De Los Santos then emphatically untied it, launching a leadoff home run to left-center for the winning run.
Box Score
High-A: Frederick Keys 6, Asheville Tourists 3
The Keys scored four runs in the 1st and never looked back in the Game 1 victory over the Tourists.
After Asheville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st, Frederick responded with a big rally in the bottom of the inning. DJ Layton started the inning with a single and then moved to second after an Enddy Azocar walk. Jaiden Lo Re promptly unloaded the bases, blasting the second pitch he saw over the left-center fence for a three-run homer. Yasmil Bucce then walked to continue the rally, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Braylon Whitaker completed the four-run inning with a single to center that scored Bucce.
After Asheville scored their second run in the top of the 5th, the Keys again responded in the bottom of the inning to grow their advantage. Layton walked, stole second and then moved to third on an Azocar single. After Azocar swiped second as well, Lo Re lofted a sac fly to center to drive home Layton. Leandro Arias then doubled to left to bring across Azocar and give Frederick a 6-2 cushion.
The Keys pitching staff was also dominant Tuesday, racking up 17 strikeouts against the Tourists. Starter Christian Rodriguez led the way with 6 punchouts in 4 innings, while Ben Vespi had 5 Ks in 2 innings and Chandler Marsh picked up 4 strikeouts in two frames.
Box Score
Low-A: Fredericksburg Nationals 5, Delmarva Shorebirds 4
The Shorebirds raced out to a 4-0 lead but couldn’t protect it, falling to the Nationals in extra innings.
Ty Head led off the bottom of the 1st with a triple and Eric Booth Jr. followed with a sac fly to center to give Delmarva a 1-0 lead. That margin would remain the same until the Shorebirds ignited another rally in the 3rd. Félix Amparo led off the inning with a walk and then moved to third on a Head single. After Head stole second, Booth grounded out to second to bring home Amparo. Stiven Martinez then homered to center to double the Delmarva advantage and put them up 4-0.
That lead didn’t last long, as the Nationals scored three runs in the top of the 4th to make it 4-3 Shorebirds. Delmarva then held Fredericksburg scoreless for four innings until the top of the 9th. With one out, Delmarva reliever Adrian Heredia left a pitch over the plate to Dashyll Tejeda, who blasted it over the fence in left-center to tie the game.
In the top of the 10th, Fredericksburg started the inning with a groundout that moved their Manfred Man third. Manuel Cabrera then singled up the middle to put the Nationals on top for the first time all game. In the bottom of the 10th, Amparo led off the inning with a single, but Manfred Man Miguel Rodríguez only got as far as third. Head then reached on a bunt single to load the bases and put the winning run on second. However, Delmarva couldn’t capitalize, as Booth and Martinez both struck out before Jimmy Anderson lined out to end the game.
Box Score
Wednesday’s scheduled games
Norfolk Tides at Durham Bulls, 6:45pm ET (Juaron Watts-Brown vs. TBD)
Chesapeake Baysox at Harrisburg Nationals, 6:30pm ET (Joseph Dzierwa vs. Jarlin Susana)
Frederick Keys vs. Asheville Tourists, 7:00pm ET (Evan Yates vs. Javier Perez)
Delmarva Shorebirds vs. Fredericksburg Nationals (Harrison Kreiling vs. Juan Reyes)
