Pinstriped Performances: No Stopping Ken Waldichuk

A rising star is on the doorstep of the major leagues. Somerset evened the score in Maine, while Hudson Valley faded late.

Oswald Peraza, pictured against Erie on Friday, June 11. Photo provided by Somerset Patriots via Michael Godlewski Photography.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (17-29): Scranton couldn’t muster up any offense to back yet more brilliance from Ken Waldichuk, losing to Jacksonville 3-0.

• Star of the Game: Ken Waldichuk – 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 87 pitches (56 strikes). Waldichuk has allowed a pair of runs through 10.1 innings at Triple-A, striking out 16 and seeming totally unfazed by the jump in levels
• Oswald Peraza: 2-for-4, 2 stolen bases
• Greg Bird: 3-for-4
• Reggie McClain: 0 IP, 0 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 13 pitches (5 strikes)
• Shelby Miller: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 30 pitches (21 strikes)
• Ryan Weber: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 27 pitches (18 strikes)

Anthony Volpe. Photo by Matt Kardos

Somerset Patriots (28-15): A much-needed breakout from Anthony Volpe helped make up for one of Jhony Brito’s shakier outings as Somerset beat the Sea Dogs 9-6 to even the series at two games apiece.

• Star of the Game: Anthony Volpe – 4-for-5, 2 doubles, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk. Volpe got over the Mendoza Line with just his sixth multi-hit game of the season, and his only game with more than two hits
• Jeisson Rosario: 2-for-4, 1 double, 3 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk. Rosario’s two-RBI single in the sixth gave the Patriots two insurance runs that ended up being necessary
• Jesus Bastidas: 2-for-4, 1 home run (2), 2 RBI, 3 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Bastidas hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to extend the margin of victory
• Mickey Gasper: 1-for-3, 1 home run (1), 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Gasper put the Patriots on the board in the first with his first homer of the year
• Jhony Brito: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 94 pitches (64 strikes). Brito had the swing-and-miss stuff, but also gave up two home runs to allow the Sea Dogs to hang around. He moved to 5-2 on the year with the win
• Barrett Loseke: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 20 pitches (13 strikes)
• Derek Craft: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 20 pitches (15 strikes). Craft earned his fourth save

Eric Wagaman (Robert M Pimpsner/Pinstriped Prospects)

Hudson Valley Renegades (19-24): A 1-1 game turned ugly in the tenth inning, as the ‘Gades gave up five runs and went on to drop the contest to Rome, 6-2.

• Star of the Game: Blas Castaño – 5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 88 pitches (58 strikes). The 23-year-old came an out away from a second straight quality start, and has a solid 2.66 ERA in the month of May
• Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, 1 double
• Eric Wagaman: 1-for-4, 1 home run (4), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. Wagaman’s OPS is over 1.000
• James Nelson: 0-for-2, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 3 stolen bases
• Rodney Hutchison: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 17 pitches (11 strikes)
• Nelvin Correa: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 0 K, 44 pitches (21 strikes). Correa took a blown save as well as his first loss of the year
• Ryan Miller: 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 26 pitches (16 strikes)

Ben Rice (Photo by John Brophy / Pinstriped Prospects)

Tampa Tarpons (20-24): Tampa’s big bats at the top of its lineup fell silent in a 6-2 loss at Lakeland.

• Star of the Game: Ben Rice – 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 walk. Rice turned in his first multi-hit game of 2022, and just his second extra-base knock
• Alex Vargas: 0-for-4, 2 strikeouts
• Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-3, 1 walk
• Kyle Battle: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout, 1 stolen base
• Chandler Champlain: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R (5 ER), 1 BB, 6 K, 92 pitches (67 strikes). Champlain gave up more than two runs in a start for the first time this year
• Gerrit van Zijll: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 49 pitches (29 strikes). The 25-year-old, picked in the 22nd round three years ago, was making his professional debut