Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 5, Norfolk Tides 3
Joe Gunkel didn’t have his best start in this one, getting knocked around for four runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. Andy Oliver pitched very well over 2+ innings in relief, but the damage was already done.
Norfolk had a chance to put up a crooked number in the fourth inning, loading the bases with no outs, but Mike Yastrzemski was thrown out at third trying to tag up on a Paul Janish fly ball. Christian Walker scored on the play, but the double play short circuited what could’ve been a bigger rally.
Francisco Pena hit a solo shot in the sixth for his first minor league home run of the year. He was 2-3 with a walk on the day.
Reading Fightin’ Phils (PHI) 10, Bowie Baysox 2
The Phillies’ double-A affiliate has by far the best record in the Eastern League, and they played like it on Sunday. Jayson Aquino had a rare bad start, going over 100 pitches for the first time this year as he allowed four runs in just five innings.
A 4-0 lead may have seemed surmountable, but that all changed when Tanner Chleborad entered the game. In the first career double-A appearance, the 2014 draft pick out of Washington State was smoked for six runs in 1.1 innings. It did not appear that the Phils were intimidated by his mustache.
Bowie didn’t score until the 8th, when a Julio Borbon hit a solo shot to break up the shutout. They added another run on an RBI triple by Adrian Marin in the ninth.
Frederick Keys 5, Winston-Salem Dash (CHW) 4
Mitch Horacek spotted Winston-Salem a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but he settled in after that and managed to get through five without giving up any more runs. He got some help from the offense early, as Cameron Kneeland and D.J. Stewart each hit RBI doubles in the second.
After that, it was the Aderlin Rodriguez show. Rodriguez hit solo shots in both the third and fifth innings, his 15th and 16th homers of the year. After Winston-Salem tied the game in the top of the 8th, D.J. Stewart doubled himself into scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
That brought up - who else - Aderlin Rodriguez, who ripped an RBI single for a walk-off win. The 24-year-old first/third baseman is now hitting .300/.352/.534 on the year.
Hagerstown Suns (WAS) 9, Delmarva Shorebirds 5
Cristian Alvarado has had a nice year, entering yesterday’s game with a 3.16 ERA. He got pounded in this one, though, to the tune of nine hits and six runs in 3.2 innings.
Cedric Mullins hit a solo homer in the first inning, but after that the bats fell silent until the eighth. At that point it was too little too late, but the Shorebirds were able to tack on four runs in the last two innings to make the final score respectable.
Ricardo Andujar was 3-3, and Yermin Mercedes just kept raking: two doubles in the game raised his average to .363 on the season.
Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI) 6, Aberdeen Ironbirds 2
In what was probably the biggest story of the day yesterday, Hunter Harvey made another start for Aberdeen. This one didn’t go so well; he only pitched 3.1 innings which was probably planned, but allowed four hits and four walks in the outing. Williamsport had a 3-0 lead when Harvey left the game, although one of those runs was unearned.
The Ironbirds weren’t able to get on the board until the sixth, when Cole Billingsley scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-1. Jaylen Ferguson added a solo shot in the ninth, but that was as close as Aberdeen would get. Overall, the good guys were held to just seven baserunners.
Futures Game
The yearly Futures Game, which showcases the MLB stars of the future, took place yesterday in San Diego. The sole rep from the Orioles was catcher Chance Sisco, who batted eighth for the U.S. team. The U.S. team lost to the World team 11-3, but our guy went 1-for-2 with a solo home run. Sisco hit the 401’ dinger off of Blue Jays’ prospect Francisco Rios.
Today’s matchups (probable starter)
Frederick vs. Winston-Salem, 2:00 PM (Franderlin Romero)
Aberdeen vs. Brooklyn, 7:05 PM (TBD)