April 21, 2064 — Extra Innings, Extra Questions
By Calvin “Cal” Booker | The Baltimore Sun
Nine games into a road stand to open the season, the Charm City Jimmies are still trying to find their rhythm. By the end of this week, they’ve played the fewest home games (5) of any team in the BBA, tied with Austin, Nashville, and Portland. And while the sample is small, one trend is already glaring: Charm City has already gone into five extra-inning games, tied with New Orleans, Madison, and Long Beach for the most in the league.
For a team built with championship aspirations, the early weeks have felt like a grind.
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April 14 – Flyers Flip the Script in the Seventh
Charlotte Flyers 7 – Charm City Jimmies 3
The Jimmies had a late lead, but Charlotte’s Tony Villa refused to let them walk out smiling. His 2-run double in the seventh flipped a 3-2 Charm City edge into a Flyers win. Villa went 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits and looked like the best player on the field.
Rookie call-up Arturo Perez debuted at third base, replacing the injured Ayyad Faisal (fractured ankle, out four months), but went hitless. Kazunari Chikafuji blasted a 2-run homer, his fifth of the season, continuing his surprising renaissance. The bullpen, however, coughed up four runs in the fateful seventh.
April 15 – Robins Walk Off in Ten
Cobble Hill Robins 3 – Charm City Jimmies 2 (10 innings)
John Mellon gave the Jimmies six good innings, but Santiago Rodríguez ended the night with a walk-off single in the tenth, pushing Cobble Hill to a 3-2 win. Evgeny Partyka wore the loss after allowing three straight singles to open the frame.
The Robins are off to a blistering 11-2 start, and Charm City couldn’t quite keep pace.
April 16 – Cobble Hill’s Late Rally Stings Again
Cobble Hill Robins 4 – Charm City Jimmies 3
Ian Tolley turned in a quality start, seven innings of three-run ball, but once again the Robins had the last word. Ricardo Norris’s 2-run double in the eighth sealed it, dropping Charm City to .500.
The only bright spots came from the bats of Matt Bamber and Ramon Rodriguez, who each homered for the first time this year.
April 17 – Davidson, Cardoza Stop the Skid
Charm City Jimmies 6 – Cobble Hill Robins 1
Finally, a response. Allen Davidson nearly went the distance, pulled after 8.2 innings and 108 pitches, and Jose Cardoza’s RBI double gave the Jimmies a lead they never surrendered. Arturo Perez chipped in his sixth home run of the year, and Charm City snapped a three-game losing streak.
Still, the Jimmies left frustrated, outscored only 11–8 in the series but saddled with just one win to show for it.
April 19 – Reyes’ Slam Sinks Blazers
Charm City Jimmies 6 – Montreal Blazers 5
Back home at OLD BAY Park, the Jimmies got their biggest swing of the week from catcher Edgardo Reyes. His grand slam in the fifth turned a 4-2 deficit into a 6-4 lead that held up in a 6-5 win over Montreal.
“If we play well, we’ll win our share of games,” Reyes said. “The only team that can beat us is us.”
Hector Silva labored through 6.2 innings, walking four and giving up four runs, but manager Craig Bass defended his ace: “Hector’s one of those guys who can gut through a rough outing and still give you a chance. That’s what makes him great. And I expect him to be sharper next time.”
April 20 – Blazers Outlast Jimmies in 11
Montreal Blazers 5 – Charm City Jimmies 4 (11 innings)
Extra innings again. This time it was Montreal’s Clancy Lee who delivered, doubling home the go-ahead run in the 11th before the Blazers tacked on more. Ramon Rodriguez’s two-run homer in the bottom half gave the crowd hope, but the rally died there.
Charm City managed just three hits, leaning on eight walks to generate baserunners, but the offense couldn’t cash in. Another late-night disappointment at OLD BAY Park.
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Bullpen Blues: Partyka on the Hot Seat?
Evgeny Partyka, the reigning Egan Award winner, might be pitching his way out of the ninth inning. Through April 20, his ERA sits at 5.79 with two losses and a blown save, and whispers are growing that manager Craig Bass is considering alternatives.
The top candidates? Lefty Miguel Reyes (1.35 ERA in seven appearances) and veteran Seung-jin Cho (3.86 ERA, 22 career saves in 5+ seasons). Reyes has shown electric command early, while Cho’s track record gives him credibility. Partyka still owns the job (for now) but the leash is shortening.
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Exclusive: Trade with Mexico City
Charm City and the Mexico City Aztecs have agreed to a minor-league swap, and Pinch Hits is the first to report it.
Heading to Mexico City: world-class defensive catcher Todd Early, who was playing at Double-A Frederick and slashing .235/.293/.412 with his usual elite framing skills. Early originally came up in the Aztecs system before a 2062 trade brought him to Charm City.
Coming to Charm City: twenty-year old third baseman Dwaine Joysey and right-handed pitcher Husayn Labid. Joysey, a 6’6” third-round pick in 2061, brings raw power but has work to do against advanced pitching. Labid, 21, was originally signed by Nashville out of Kuwait, throws a heavy mid-to-upper 90s fastball with a biting curve, but command issues may push him toward the bullpen long-term. Both players are expected to be assigned to Single-A Cumberland, whose season is already underway.
Aztecs GM Brandon Tucker provided a quote to Pinch Hits: “We are excited to bring Todd Early back to Mexico City. We wish Joysey and Labid all the best in Charm City,” before adding, “I'll have a steak sandwich...and a steak sandwich. Put it on Underhill’s tab.”
GM Joe Lederer was unavailable for comment and we have no idea who Underhill is. Faithful readers will be the first to know when we do.
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Final Word
The Jimmies wrapped another up-and-down week defined by late innings and longer nights. They’ve already played five extra-inning games and logged more road dates than nearly anyone in baseball. Fatigue isn’t an excuse, but it’s a reality.
Coming up: the series finale with Montreal, then three at home against Cape Fear and another three hosting Atlantic City. It’s April, but the Cape Fear match-up looms large, as the Swamp Foxes are already ahead of last year’s pace and looking hungry.
For Charm City, the marathon continues. And the margin for error in the Atlantic Division is already razor-thin.
