Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 6, Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 2
Weird fact alert: every run in this game scored on a two-run homer.
Luis De León pitched a fine game for Norfolk, allowing two runs in five innings. The damage was done by old friend Maverick Handley, who is playing for Gwinnett. He hit a two-run home run in the second inning. De León allowed six runs and a walk. He struck out seven.
Down 2-0 in the third, Heston Kjerstad connected for his 11th homer of the year. Enrique Bradfield, who had walked, scored on the hit. The scored remained tied until the bottom of the eighth when the Tides scored four more. Kjerstad singled, then Creed Willems homered. Luis Vázquez capped off the scoring with his sixth home run. Ryan Noda (double) scored on the play.
Kjerstad and Jud Fabian both had two-hit games. Bradfield had a double to go along with his walk.
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 5, Reading Fightin’ Phils 2
Anthony Eyanson started for the Baysox and picked up his second win since joining the organization. The good news is that he allowed two runs on four hits over 5.1 innings and he struck out seven. The less good news is that he walked four batters. He kept the Phils scoreless until the fifth, when a walk, a double, and a single drove in both runs.
The offense scored exactly once in five different innings. Three of the runs came via homer from Aron Estrada, Thomas Sosa, and Dom Keegan. Anderson De Los Santos drove in a run on a ground out, and the last run of the game scored on an error. Frederick Bencosme walked, stole second, and scored on a throwing error. Wehiwa Aloy was not involved in any scoring. He went 1-for-5 and struck out four times.
High-A: Frederick Keys 5, Bowling Green Hot Rods (TBR) 2
Kyson Witherspoon made his second start for the Keys and impressively struck out nine batters in five innings. Overall he allowed two runs in five innings. He gave up two runs on four hits and walked only two. That’s a nice improvement from his five batters walked in his team debut.
Ethan Anderson, who usually plays for Chesapeake, made his first rehab start after going on the IL on July 7th. He started off with a bang, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning. He finished the game with four hits and three RBI. Maybe just send him back to Double-A. He seems healed.
Braylon Whitaker hit his first home run for Frederick in his eighth game after being promoted from Delmarva. Also recently promoted, DJ Layton had two hits and scored two runs as the leadoff batter.
Low-A: Salem RidgeYaks (BOS) 9, Delmarva Shorebirds 3
Harrison Kreiling pitched just 1.2 innings and managed to give up four runs on three hits and four walks. All four runs came in the second inning (as did all four walks). The Taylor Ward trade return has not made a good impression over two games. Connor Gehr allowed the other five runs over four innings of relief.
Ty Head, 2026 second round pick, had two hits at leadoff. First round pick Eric Booth, Jr had one hit and three walks; he scored two of the team’s three runs. Jaiden Lo Re also singled and walked thrice. Jhomnardo Reyes went 1-for-5 but got thrown out on the basepaths on his one hit.
Today’s Schedule
- Norfolk vs Gwinnett, 6:35. Starter: Cade Povich
- Chesapeake @ Reading, 6:45. Starter: JT Quinn
- Frederick vs Bowling Green, 6:00. Starter: TBD
- Delmarva vs Salem, 7:05. Starter: Esteban Mejia