Charlotte Knights 14, Norfolk Tides 4

Odrisamer Despaigne got the start for Norfolk and was cruising until former Oriole prospect Nick Delmonico took him deep for a 3-run shot in the fourth. After loading the bases in the fifth with one out, Despaigne was lifted for Michael Zouzalik.

That might have been a bad idea. Zouzalik allowed all three of Despaigne’s runners to score and then three more runs of his own, turning a 3-0 game into a 9-0 rout. After the fifth, Zouzalik settled down, but the damage was done.

Zach Phillips came on for the eighth, and did something strange. After inducing a groundout to start the inning, Phillips gave up seven straight singles. At this point, five more runs had scored, and Phillips was replaced by....L.J. Hoes.

Naturally, in a game where every other Tides pitcher had an ERA in double digits, Hoes retired all five batters he faced. Maybe the O’s should bring him up for a spot start.

Oh, and the Tides’ offense? They were no-hit until the eighth. Norfolk did manage to break through with five hits and score four runs that inning, but that was as close as they’d get.

Bowie Baysox 6, Binghamton Mets 2

Matthew Grimes had a nice six-inning, one-run start with four strikeouts, leading Bowie to a comfortable win. It was close until the bottom of the eight, when the Baysox added three insurance runs to make it easier for Jimmy Yacabonis to close out the game.

Henry Urrutia and Chance Sisco each homered, and Joey Terdoslavich was 2-4 with a double. Sisco is now up to .311/.398/.412 on the year for Bowie. If the Orioles call up a third catcher in September, might we see him make his triple-A debut?

Meanwhile, Tanner Scott pitched an inning and allowed a run, bringing his ERA up to 6.92 in double-A and 4.99 on the year overall. He has 52 walks in 61 innings. If Sisco moves to Norfolk, I have a feeling Scott won’t be joining him.

Salem Red Sox 1, Frederick Keys 0

Mitch Horacek got the ball for the Keys and looked great - he allowed no runs and left the game with two outs in the seventh. Unfortunately, the Keys couldn’t get anything going offensively, so the game was still scoreless when Horacek was replaced by Ryan Meisinger.

Meisinger got through the eighth easily, but walked the leadoff guy in the ninth. You know how that goes. Two singles later, Salem had a walk-off win.

Wynston Sawyer was the only Key with multiple hits in the game; he was 2-4 with a double.

Delmarva Shorebirds 7, Lexington Legends 5

Francisco Jimenez wasn’t exactly at the top of his game, but he managed to gut out a good performance. He gave up just one run in six innings despite allowing eight hits and two walks.

Steven Klimek gave up three runs in relief to make this a closer game than it should’ve been, but the Shorebirds prevailed thanks to home runs from Randolph Gassaway, Ryan Mountcastle, and Ademar Rifaela.

Mountcastle was 3-5 on the day with a homer and a double, and Gassaway was 2-3 with a homer and a sac fly.

Hudson Valley Renegades 7, Aberdeen Ironbirds 5

Alex Wells had his first bad start of the year for the Ironbirds, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks in three innings, but he did strike out seven for a bit of a silver lining. He’s still sporting just a 2.34 ERA even after yesterday’s game.

Aberdeen was able to tie the game up and send it to extras behind two homers from Ronald Soto and Austin Hays, but Hudson Valley was finally able to break through in the top of the 13th.

Will Shepley came on for the Ironbirds and walked the leadoff guy (sigh), but followed with two straight strikeouts. He walked the next batter, then threw two wild pitches to allow the lead runner to score from second. An RBI triple followed, giving the Renegades a 7-5 lead that would ultimately hold up.

With a 2-6 performance yesterday that included his 2-run home run, Hays continue his torrid start to his pro career. The 2016 3rd round pick is hitting .348/.408/.509 through 123 plate appearances.

Today’s matchups

Norfolk @ Gwinnett, 7:05 PM (Tyler Wilson)

Bowie vs. Harrisburg, 7:05 PM (Jason Garcia)

Frederick OFF

Delmarva OFF

Aberdeen @ State College, 7:05 PM (Travis Seabrooke)