Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 6, Rochester Red Wings (WAS) 1

Well, isn’t Tyler Wells going four innings with just one hit and no runs allowed (and five strikeouts) a sight for sore eyes? The big righty hasn’t pitched since April 12, 2024, having undergone UCL surgery in May of that year. Rehab starts might not tell you everything, but a good one is certainly better than a bad one. Wells only allowed four baserunners in four innings (on a single, walk, HBP and an error by shortstop José Barrero).

After Wells, Carson Ragsdale (recently acquired off waivers from San Francisco), Chayce McDermott and Houston Roth each tossed a scoreless inning (Ragsdale threw two). Matt Bowman allowed Rochester’s first run of the game, on a solo home run, in the ninth.

As for the offense, Samuel Basallo was a one-man wrecking crew from the DH spot. Basallo hit a three-run double in the fifth, scoring Livan Soto, Dylan Beavers and Maverick Handley, and he’d add an RBI single in the sixth. Soto singled home a fifth run, and Handley knocked in a sixth with a sac fly.

Beavers (whose every move it feels like we’re watching) went hitless, but he walked twice. Terrin Vavra, Soto and Emmanuel Rivera each had two hits. Vimael Machín went 1-for-2 with two walks. Jud Fabian singled and walked.

Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 7, Akron RubberDucks (CLE) 3

The Baysox put together a balanced offensive approach on Sunday, with nine hits up and down the lineup and three home runs. Frederick Bencosme drove in Aberdeen’s first two runs in two different AB’s, with a sac fly and a single. Aron Estrada had three 3 RBIs, courtesy of a bases-loaded walk and a two-run homer. New guy Brandon Butterworth hit his second home run with Chesapeake since coming over at the trade deadline. Douglas Hodo homered, too.

This was a much better second appearance for Juaron Watts-Brown, another trade deadline acquisition. His last time out, JWB allowed six runs, but this time, he went 4.2 innings with two runs allowed, both coming on a first-inning home run. He also struck out seven. Homers and K’s seem to be a pattern for JWB. Yaqui Rivera retired one batter, and Trace Bright provided four innings of relief, allowing one earned run.

High-A: Wilmington Blue Rocks (WAS) 6, Aberdeen IronBirds 3

The game was scoreless entering the sixth, but Rodolfo Martínez allowed Wilmington to score on a single, walk and wild pitch. Sebastian Gongora made a mess of things, letting four runs come home in the seventh. Aberdeen scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the comeback ended there.

Despite the loss, so many runs scoring late meant one good thing: Aberdeen starter Michael Forret was excellent once again, with five scoreless innings on just two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. In 15 starts this season, Forret has allowed one run or less 12 times. Alas, that was true for Wilmington, too, whose starter Alex Clemney handled the IronBirds over six scoreless innings where he whiffed eight.

Catcher Ethan Anderson had all the RBIs for his team, cracking an Earl Weaver Special following singles by Vance Honeycutt and Griff O’Ferrall. Anderson also singled. Enrique Bradfield Jr. went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Low-A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (HOU) 1, Delmarva Shorebirds 0

This was a pitchers duel, through and through. Both teams combined for just five hits, four of them singles, and Fayetteville’s sole (winning) run came on a single, stolen base, wild pitch and sac fly. Delmarva’s two hits came courtesy of Edwin Amparo (single) and Stiven Martínez (double).

As for the pitchers, certainly a good day of work. Starter Esteban Mejía allowed the one run in 4.1 innings and, perhaps more importantly, struck out seven while walking just one. Kenny Leiner, Carlos Tavera, Jacob Stretch and Andy Fabian combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings with just three hits and a walk allowed.

A rehabbing Hudson Haskin went hitless, but reached on a walk. Cobb Hightower struck out three times. Nate George didn’t play.

There are no scheduled games.