Norfolk lost its second-shortest game of the season, a two hour, 15-minute contest that was scoreless through six innings before reliever Nick Vespi gave up a solo home run to the Marlins’ No. 11 prospect Lewin Díaz. In 10.1 IP with Norfolk, Vespi has an 8.71 ERA. Could be better. Alexander Wells started, going just 2 IP but allowing no runs. His ERA in Triple-A is a solid 3.29 now. Ryan Hartman, a July 30th Houston waiver claim, pitched four scoreless himself.
It’s not easy to win, though, when your team has literally two baserunners all game. Jacksonville’s (Marlins) Daniel Castano, one of the arms thrown into a big prospect package for Marcell Ozuna in 2017, shut down the Tides for seven innings, allowing just one hit.