Pawtucket PawSox (BOS) 5, Norfolk Tides 4 (14 innings)
It was a long night in Pawtucket as the Tides tied the PawSox after nine innings, and again after ten innings, until Pawtucket finally walked off in the 14th innings. Joe "The Gunk" Gunkel started for the Tides and was knocked out after just 4.2 innings. He gave up three runs, which isn't a massacre, but he did allow nine hits. This was The Gunk's fourth start a triple-A and the second straight in which he left early.
The Tides bullpen did work last night as Scott McGough, Chaz Roe, Pedro Beato, and Zach Phillips combined to pitch 4.1 scoreless innings to keep the game tied through nine.
In the top of the 10th inning the Tides went ahead on an RBI single by Trey Mancini, but the Tides couldn't hold it. Oliver Drake came in and wasn't sharp or lucky. He allowed two baserunners but had two on and two outs when the tying run scored on a passed ball by Aubry Perez. D'oh!
Starting pitcher Nick Additon then came in and pitched the final 3.1 innings. The first three were good, but he walked a batter to start the 14th who he came around to score (of course) and give the Tides the walkoff loss.
The Tides racked up 12 hits in the game with only Garabez Rosa going hitless. 0-for-6 has to feel like a long night. Christian Walker and Mike Yastrzemski both homered in the game. Dariel Alvarez had three hits and a walk and Trey Mancini went 2-for-6.
Reading Fightins (PHI) 9, Bowie Baysox 1
It was a rough night all around for the Baysox. Starting pitcher Parker Bridwell didn't make it out of the fourth inning and gave up seven runs. Ouch. He gave up eight hits, two of which were home runs, and only struck out two. The Fightins (which, I'm sorry, is a horrible name. And not even horrible in a fun way like some minor league teams) batted around in the fourth inning, with old friend Jake Fox homering to start the inning and flying out to end it.
Bobby Bundy, brother of Dylan, came in to relieve Bridwell and instead gave up both of his inherited runners. He followed that with two runs allowed of his own in the fifth inning.
The Baysox had just four hits on the day and didn't score their lone run until the bottom of the ninth. Glynn Davis doubled, the only Baysock with an extra base hit. Catcher Chance Sisco was 1-for-3 with a sac fly.
Frederick Keys 3, Wilmington Blue Rocks (KCR) 1
Starting pitcher Matthew Grimes continued his strong season last night with a seven-inning, one-run game for the Keys. Grimes has yet to allow more than two runs in any of his eight starts this season and his ERA is down to 1.61. He walked just one, struck out five, and gave up seven hits, all singles. Jeff Beliveau pitched the last two innings in relief and was excellent, striking out three and walking one with no hits allowed.
The Keys scored a solo run in the first inning and added two more in the sixth to go ahead for good. Aderlin Rodriguez doubled in Stephen Wilkerson in the first, giving the Keys a temporary 1-0 lead. In the sixth inning Jonah Heim joined the doubles party (it was a lame party, those were the only two) to knock in Jomar Reyes, then Heim came in to score on a single by Conor Bierfeldt. Josh Hart had the only multi-hit night for the Keys, going 2-for-5.
Delmarva Shorebirds 6, West Virginia Power (PIT) 3
The Shorebirds scored four runs in the third inning and never looked back in their win against the Power. It was a wild third inning with the first six batters reaching for the Birds. Steve Laurino kicked things off with a single, then came around to score on Adimar Rafaela's triple. Back-to-back singles by Drew Turbin and Cedric Mullins knocked in two more, and the fourth came in on a wild pitch. The Birds added two insurance runs in the eighth on RBI singles by Ryan Mountcastle and Alex Murphy.
It was a good night for Turbin, who singled and doubled, and Mullins, who had three hits in the leadoff spot. Mountcastle was 1-for-2 with two walks while D.J. Stewart went 0-for-2, dropping his batting average to .198. He did reach base twice via a walk and a hit by pitch.
Ofelky Peralta got the start for the Shorebirds and didn't have a great night. He surrendered three runs in just five innings and walked five(!) batters. Garret Cleavinger and Christian Turnipseed followed with two scoreless innings apiece, with Turnipseed collecting his seventh save on the year.
Today's Games
Norfolk @ Pawtucket, 11:05 AM. Starter: David Hale
Bowie vs. Reading, 6:35 PM. Starter: Chris Lee
Frederick @ Wilmington, 10:35 AM. Starter: Mitch Horacek
Delmarva vs. West Virginia, 10:35 AM. Starter: Francisco Jimenez
For box scores and additional details on yesterday's games, visit MiLB.com.