Baby Bomber Recap 5/19/16: Nestor Cortes strikes out 12 in Charleston shutout

Triple-A Scranton/RailRiders: W 9-1 vs. Louisville Bats

The RailRiders scored five runs in the first inning on their way to a blowout win over the Bats Thursday night. Chris Parmelee swatted his fourth and fifth homers of the year, driving in five runs all by himself. Nick Swisher hit his fourth home run of 2016 and drove in another three runs. Scranton combined for twelve hits with three each coming off the bat of Gary Sanchez and Jake Cave. Unfortunately, Aaron Judge didn't join the offensive party, going 0-4 with three strikeouts. He did reach base and score a run after being hit by a pitch, though.

Eric Ruth was responsible for the team's strong start, pitching 7.2 innings and allowing just one run on four hits. He walked one batter and struck out five, lowering his ERA to 1.98. Scranton Shuttle rider Johnny Barbato pitched 1.1 innings to close out the game, allowing just one walk and no hits.

Double-A Trenton Thunder: W 12-8 vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels

Every Thunder starter recorded at least one hit in their offensive outburst against Richmond on Thursday. Kyle Higashioka drove in three runs to lead the offense, but Mark Payton and Dustin Fowler weren't far behind with two RBI each. Trenton managed to score multiple runs in all but three innings in the game, including four crucial runs in the bottom of the eighth that gave them the win.

Although the Thunder offense certainly brought their bats, they needed nearly every one of the runs they scored. Richmond actually out-hit Trenton 15-13. Things really fell apart for the Thunder pitchers in the fifth inning when they allowed five Flying Squirrel runs. Daniel Camarena lasted only 4.2 innings and allowed five runs on five hits. Caleb Smith failed to put out the fire, allowing two runs in just one inning after giving up five hits in relief. Matt Tracy was the only Thunder pitcher to not allow a run in his outing.

High-A Tampa Yankees: W 12-2 vs Jupiter Hammerheads

Tampa batters combined for 16 hits on their way to a big win over Jupiter for their 25th win of the season. They scored six runs in the fifth and four more runs in the sixth, allowing them to pretty much cruise the rest of the way. Abiatal Avelino recorded three hits to lead the offense with a double and two RBI. Literally every other batter, with the exception of Bo Thompson and Santiago Nessy, had two hits. It was a very balanced attack from the T-Yanks. Austin Aune hit his second homer of the year and recorded his sixth double of the season as well. Jorge Mateo tripled and stole a base, as Mateo does.

Chance Adams allowed one run in his four-inning start, striking out two and walking two. He was the only T-Yanks pitcher to allow an earned run in the game. Matt Marsh and Philip Walby combined for three scoreless innings before Caleb Frare came on to close it out with two innings. He did allow an unearned run in the ninth via a passed ball error by Nessy, but that was the only mark against him. The game was well in hand by that point anyway.

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs: W 1-0 vs. Columbia Fireflies

Charleston did just enough to beat Columbia in a pitcher's duel that featured a combined nine hits. Thairo Estrada was the lone RiverDog to record more than one hit (and he also stole two bases), but Leonardo Molina made his one hit count by driving in the game's only run in the fifth inning.

Nestor Cortes was absolutely dominant, pitching six shutout innings and striking out twelve batters. His relievers held the line with three shutout innings of their own to preserve the shutout win. Cortes' season ERA now stands at 1.08.