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Norfolk 14, Syracuse 1: The Tides hung not one, not two, but three big innings on the Chiefs for their fifth victory of the young season against the Nats affiliate. The bullpen starters (Adam Russell, Chris Jones and Mark Hendrickson) held the Chiefs to five hits. Four Tides (Jonathan Schoop, Jason Pridie, Trayvon Robinson and Danny Valencia) had three hits, while three more (L.J. Hoes, Yamaico Navarro and Travis Ishikawa) each had a pair. Schoop, Valencia and Pridie also homered with Schoop and Valencia tacking on doubles to their final lines. Jonathan Schoop has been extremely hot lately having had multihit games in six of his last ten. He is not alone in this regard as Ishikawa and Pridie can boast of similar success in their last ten. Valencia has four doubles and four homers in his last ten games, Pridie has three and five.
Tides finish up their series against the Chiefs today at noon.
Bowie 6, Erie 10: The Zach Clark knuckleball experiment made an inauspicious debut. Clark allowed ten baserunners in 3.1 innings and six of them scored. He did, however, strike out three. Offensively, the X Man continues to shine. He was three for five on the day with two doubles and a steal. Unless my eyes deceive me, he's gotten on base in every game he's started this season since the first two when he was 0-9. Henry Urrutia was two for four with ANOTHER double, his tenth. He is challenging Caleb Joesph for the team lead in that category in a little more than half as many games and is now slashing .352/.410/.577.
Frederick 2, Wilmington 8: The Keys got stomped, but Christian Walker had a nice Carolina League debut and Nicky Delmonico marked his return from the DL in style. Walker was three for four on the day with two doubles and Delmonico homered (though he also committed an error). Jerome Pena was two for four and has really been seeing the ball well of late. The 2011 draft pick out of Texas Christian University has slashed .316/.422/.658 this month, but is a little older than average for the team. Zach Petersime had a forgettable day on the mound, allowing seven runs (five earned) in six innings.
Delmarva 12, Hagerstown 7: The heart of the Shorebirds order powered their offense by combining for eight hits. Torsten Boss was two for four with two home runs (one error, as well) and Wynston Sawyer was two for three with a double and a walk. Nik Balog was a perfect four for four. Branden Kline had a little trouble of his own keeping the ball in the park. The 2012 draftee out of UVA allowed two homers and six runs in 4.1 innings. The Hobgoblin came on in relief and pretty much shut things down allowing two hits and striking two out over 2.2 innings. He has now scavenged his way to four wins and is sporting a nifty looking .90 ERA (FIP 3.55). The defense had a case of the dropsies and both Kline and Hobgood were charged with unearned runs.
Delmarva 3, Hagerstown 4: Josh Hader struck out nine and walked none, but every baserunner he allowed scored anyways. Tough outing. Class of 2012 pitchers Dennis Torres and Lex Rutledge came on in relief. All their outs came on the ground or via the strikeout, but Rutledge allowed the winning run to score. The offense was largely silent, though Adrian Marin doubled (his third on the day) and Greg Lorenzo was two for five (3-9 on the day, 1 BB, 3 Ks) and picked up his 15th stolen base.