The Tides and the Baysox both had off days yesterday, so our recap starts with a pair of games in Frederick:
Wilmington (Royals) 15, Frederick 10
This was a crazy game that actually started on July 9th and suspended, but I'm just recapping the whole game here. Frederick jumped out to an early lead after taking Kansas City's 2014 first round pick Sean Manaea to the woodshed. Through 4 innings, the Keys had a 7-1 lead. Keys starter Luis Gonzalez was OK, allowing four runs (only 2 earned) in six innings pitched and leaving the game with an 8-4 lead. The bottom of the 7th, though, was ridiculous. The Blue Rocks sent 14 batters to the plate, and broke the game open by scoring ten runs. Dylan Rheault took the loss by allowing 5 earned runs in 0.0 innings pitched. Nik Nowottnick relieved him and allowed the other five, three of which were earned, and recorded only one out. Williams Louico finished off the inning and pitched the 8th, and two runs in the 9th weren't enough for the Keys.
On the bright side, all ten position players to bat for the Keys had at least one hit - they actually outhit Wilmington 18 to 13 (four errors and nine Wilmington walks were the difference). Josh Hart was great, going 5-6 with two doubles and 3 RBIs. He scored two runs, one of which was a steal of home on a 1st-and-3rd double steal. Second baseman Jeff Kemp was 3-4 with a walk, and Chance Sisco was 2-5 on the day. Somehow, neither team hit a single home run in a 25-run ballgame.
Frederick 5, Wilmington 2 (F/11)
In the second game, Matt Taylor got the start for the Keys and allowed 2 earned runs in 4 innings (5 H, 3 K) before turning the game over to the bullpen. The relievers were fantastic- Jimmy Yacabonis, Donnie Hart and Cody Wheeler combined for 7 innings, 2 hits, zero earned runs, and 4 strikeouts.
Hits were hard to come by for the Keys against starter Sean Manaea (yes, he started both games since the first one began six days earlier). After playing to a 2-2 tie through ten innings, Frederick was finally able to break it open in the top of the 11th. Chance Sisco and Wynston Sawyer both walked, and my current favorite baseball name Tad Gold doubled them both in. Adrian Marin singled Gold home, and a quick inning from Wheeler gave Frederick a 5-2 victory. Sisco and Marin had two hits apiece, out of only seven total for the Keys.
Delmarva 11, Lexington (Royals) 3
This was an easy win for the Shorebirds. All three pitchers were effective: starter Lucas Long (3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K), Dariel Delgado (5 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K), and Max Schuh (1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K). Meanwhile, Delmarva teed off on Legends pitching to the tune of 15 hits, 6 walks, and eleven runs.
Eight starters had at least one hit for the Shorebirds. Shortstop Stephen Wilkerson was 2-2 with two walks, first baseman Logan Uxa was 3-5 with a double, and centerfielder TJ Olesczuk was 3-5 with a double. Catcher Yermin Mercedes had a big day with a 2-run homer in the 4th and an RBI double as well.
Aberdeen 5, Hudson Valley (Rays) 1
Just like Delmarva, Aberdeen had an easy day thanks to a good team pitching performance. Tanner Scott was dominant, striking out 7 and allowing only one baserunner in three innings. This year's 3rd round pick, Garrett Cleavinger, replaced him and threw a perfect inning - he's yet to allow a hit or a run in 4 innings pitched so far as a pro. Elias Pinales picked up the win, allowing the game's only run over three innings, and 2015 30th round pick Andrew Elliott threw a perfect two frames to close out the game. In total, Aberdeen pitching allowed only 5 hits and no walks.
On the offensive side, right fielder and 2015 16th round pick Mike Odenwaelder was the star of the day, going 3-3 with a walk and a double. Designated hitter Randolph Gassaway and shortstop Ricardo Adujar both went 2-4. First rounder D.J. Stewart played left field and went 0-3. He's struggling so far in his very young pro career, batting .150 on the season for Aberdeen.
The full scoreboard is available here if you want to check out the GCL/DSL action. Here are today's matchups and probable starters:
Norfolk @ Charlotte, 7:05 PM (Mike Wright)
Bowie vs. Harrisburg, 7:05 PM (Elih Villanueva)
Frederick @ Wilmington, 11:05 AM (Mitch Horacek)
Delmarva vs. Lexington, 7:05 PM (Josh Walker)
Aberdeen vs. Hudson Valley, 7:05 PM (TBD)