Norfolk Tides 5, Gwinnett Braves 0
Mike Wright continues his resurgence, this time with 7 1/3 shutout innings. He gave up just five singles and didn't walk a batter, and he struck out six. Well done! Though his ERA is still 5.16, he has given up two or less runs in each of his last five starts. Last night's game could have been his best of the season.
On offense, the Tides only had seven hits but they were fortunate enough to get most of them in the same inning .They scored all five runs in the second inning on four singles, a double, and a walk. CF Julio Borbon had two hits in the game and LF Steve Lombardozzi doubled for the team's only extra base hit. Both 1B Christian Walker and RF Dariel Alvarez went hitless.
Bowie Baysox 7, Trenton Thunder 4
Anthony Vasquez was knocked around for four runs in 6 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. But the Baysox offense was good enough to save Vasquez from picking up a loss. They went into the bottom of the ninth down 4-3, but after 1B Chris Marrero homered to tie the game, DH David Adams hit a walk off Earl Weaver Special to put the Baysox in the win column.
LF Mike Yastrzemski singled and doubled in the game, and C Michael Ohlman had two hits. It was a big night for SS Garabez Rosa, who had three hits.
Frederick Keys 8, Lynchburg Hillcats 7
I was in attendance for this game along with a small gang of Camden Chatters. Matt Taylor got the start for the Keys but was knocked out with just one out in the fifth. Taylor gave up four runs in the game, including one home run. He was replaced by Matt Hobgood, who Steve Damerell is convinced will be a middle reliever for the Orioles at some point. Hobgood walked a batter and gave up a sac fly to allow one of his inherited runners to score, but had a good sixth inning.
With the Keys down 4-1 in the sixth, 1B Trey Mancini crushed a ball to center field that cleared the tall wall directly over the 400' marker. It was a beauty.
Jesse Beal had a terrible time on the mound and blew the lead for the Keys in the top of the 8th, but they came right back to score two more runs in the bottom and went on to win. Fireworks were set off, kids ran the bases, and all was right in the world of minor league baseball.
CF John Ruettiger had a great game for the Keys, going 3-for-4 with a walk.
Delmarva Shorebirds 5, Hickory Crawdads 2
Steven Brault pitched six shutout innings with just three hits and no walks. Nice! He struck out four and had an 8/4 groundout to flyout ratio.
1B Creede Simpson had three hits, 3B Drew Dosch doubled, RF Anthony Vega had two hits, and CF Josh Hart singled and homered.
Aberdeen Ironbirds 3, Connecticut Tigers 4
John Means gave up two runs in five innings for the Ironbirds, but each of the two relief pitchers, Matt Trowbridge and Ivan Hernandez, gave up a run of their own.
The Ironbirds had eight hits, all singles, and no batter had more than one.