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Norfolk Tides 7, Gwinnett (Braves) 4
The final score doesn’t indicate that this should have been a pitchers’ duel between two top prospects. Luis Ortiz, the O’s #7 prospect who was acquired in the Jonathan Schoop deal, made his organizational debut yesterday and squared off against Touki Toussaint. Ortiz wasn’t exactly impressive. Over five innings, he allowed three runs on eight hits and four walks and threw 87 pitches.
Norfolk’s duo of major league-ready outfielders had nice games. Cedric Mullins went 2-4 with a walk, a double, and run scored. He extended a modest hitting streak to four games, though he’s only hitting .214 over his last ten games. DJ Stewart went 2-5 with a double and an RBI. He also threw a runner out at home. Mike Yastrzemski collected three hits while Breyvic Valera and Drew Dosch each added two. Catcher Armando Araiza hit his first AAA home run to add insurance runs.
The victory kept Norfolk at the top of the International League wild card standings.
Reading (Phillies) 11, Bowie Baysox 7
Reading jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but Bowie immediately responded with four runs to grab the lead. However, it was all Fightin’ Phils from there. Bowie starter Luis Ysla was charged with seven earned runs in 4.2 innings of work. The first two relievers, Matthew Grimes and Tanner Chleborad each gave up two runs to allow the game to get out of hand. Branden Kline tossed a scoreless ninth inning. He lowered his AA ERA to 1.70 and has given up one run in his last ten outings.
Ryan McKenna and Ryan Mountcastle each doubled and scored, but they struck out a combined five times. Anderson Feliz homered and Martin Cervenka had two base hits and two RBI. Yusniel Diaz went 0-4.
Frederick Keys 6, Wilmington (Royals) 0
It was the Alex Wells show yesterday in Delaware. He picked up the win after pitching seven shutout innings and allowing five baserunners. He struck out four. Wells rebounded from a rough outing and lowered his ERA to 3.68. After taking some time to adjust to Carolina League hitters, he has found his groove.
Jomar Reyes collected three hits and drove in a run to back Wells. He is hot, hitting .355 over his last ten games. Stuart Levy homered and Alejandro Juvier, Wilson Garcia and Randolph Gassaway also contributed RBI.
Charleston (Yankees) 4, Delmarva Shorebirds 2
Delmarva had the chance to win the series after an uplifting extra innings win on Saturday, but they couldn’t get it done. The game was tied at two after six innings when the River Dogs scored the eventual winning runs. Brenan Hanifee started for Delmarva and looked good. He gave up two runs over five innings, lowering his ERA to 2.92. He gave up five hits and struck out only two. This is the fourth straight outing in which Hanifee has pitched only five innings. The organization must be monitoring his innings, as his pitch count today was only 63.
The Shorebirds’ runs were driven in by Jean Carlos Encarnacion and Seamus Curran, who each went 1-4. Ryan Ripken went 2-3 and Mason McCoy and Zach Jarrett each added a hit. Cadyn Grenier was c0-4 with two strikeouts, lowering his average as a professional to .181. He has lived up to his billing as a slick glove whose bat may take some time to develop.
Aberdeen IronBirds 2, Staten Island (Yankees) 1
Jean Carmona, another player acquired from Milwaukee from Schoop, was the hero yesterday in Aberdeen. With a runner on third and two outs in a tie ninth inning game, he singled to send fans at Ripken Stadium home happy. That was Carmona’s only hit of the day. Nick Horvath tied the game at one in the eighth inning with an RBI. J.C. Escarra and Cody Roberts each collected two hits.
Starter Hector Guance pitched six inning of one-run ball, but left the game trailing 1-0. Juan Echevarria pitched the final three innings of the game to pick up his first win of the season.
Complete box scores from these games can be found here.
Monday’s scheduled games:
Aberdeen vs. Staten Island, 7:05. Starter: TBD