Norfolk Tides 4, Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 3
This was a wild one. Toledo struck first with two runs off of Mike Wright in the second inning, but that was all they’d get off of Wright, who left the game with two down in the sixth.
A three-run fifth inning put Wright in line for the win, thanks to a two-run triple by Ozzie Martinez followed by an RBI single from L.J. Hoes. Toledo was able to bring a run across in the top of the ninth, tying the game at 3-3 and sending it to extras.
In the bottom of the tenth, L.J. Hoes knocked a one-out triple, prompting the Mud Hens to intentionally walk Trey Mancini. Shortly thereafter, pitcher Preston Guilmet (remember him?) tried to pick off Hoes at third. Mancini took off for second on the throw and was caught in a rundown, but Hoes bolted for the plate. The throw home was too late - ballgame.
Martinez’s two-run triple was one of three hits for him on the day. Francisco Pena had three hits as well.
Bowie Baysox 2, Erie SeaWolves (DET) 1
Bowie won a pitchers’ duel behind a 6.1 inning, one-run outing from Matthew Grimes. He wasn’t exactly efficient though, allowing five hits and six walks while striking out just three.
The Baysox struck first in the second inning on an RBI double by Drew Dosch, but weren’t able to score again until the bottom of the eighth, when a Chris O’Brien single broke a 1-1 tie. Stefan Crichton was able to hold on in the ninth to preserve the victory.
Hyun Soo Kim was the DH for Bowie as part of his rehab assignment; he was 0-3 with two strikeouts.
Frederick Keys 7, Salem Red Sox (BOS) 0
Lucas Long entered the day with a pedestrian 4.70 ERA in 16 starts for Delmarva, but he was dominant in yesterday’s game. Long went seven innings, allowing no runs and just two hits while striking out eleven. Garrett Cleavinger pitched the final two innings to finish off the shutout.
On the offensive side, Cameron Kneeland was 2-4 with two RBIs, Aderlin Rodriguez was 2-4 with an RBI, and Erick Salcedo was 2-4 with a double.
Delmarva Shorebirds 6, Kannapolis Intimidators (CHW) 3
The Shorebirds obliterated Kannapolis starter Johnathan Frebis to the tune of ten hits in the first four innings, and a five-run fourth inning blew the game open for good. A six-run lead was more than enough for Ofelky Peralta, who allowed two runs in five innings of work.
Cedric Mullins had a huge day, going 3-5 with two doubles and a triple. Yermin Mercedes was 2-4 with a double, which is pretty much a typical game for him at this point. He’s hitting .356 and sporting a .993 OPS.
The O’s have a bit of a logjam at catcher, but they’ve got to find a way to shuffle the deck and move Mercedes up a level. He’s crushing low-A pitching at age 23, and really has nothing left to prove for Delmarva.
Hudson Valley Renegades (TB) 10, Aberdeen Ironbirds 1
Keegan Akin made his third professional start and allowed three runs (two earned) in just three innings of work. He was replaced by Jeong-Hyeon Yoon, who got shelled for six more runs to make this one a laugher.
Second baseman Alejandro Juvier was 2-4 with the Ironbirds’ only RBI. Cole Billingsley stayed hot with another 2-4 performance to bring his average up to .319 so far in the young season.
Today’s matchups
Bowie vs. Hartford, 7:05 PM (Jayson Aquino)
Frederick @ Winston-Salem, 7:05 PM (David Richardson)
Delmarva vs. Kannapolis, 7:05 PM (Francisco Jimenez)
Aberdeen @ Hudson Valley, 7:05 PM (TBD)
Norfolk off