And Portland splits a doubleheader, getting strong pitching performances from Wehunt and Monegro
Buffalo Bisons 12, Worcester Red Sox 1 (BOX)
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Things were ugly from the start for the Woo Sox in Buffalo (TOR) on Thursday night. Former Dodgers farmhand Jose De Leon got the start and gave up five runs in two innings in his first start for Worcester. The 32-year-old De Leon was followed by Alex Hoppe and Luis Guerrero, neither of whom fared any better, allowing three runs a piece for an 11-1 deficit after six innings.
The lone Woo Sox run came off the bat of first baseman Nathan Hickey, who homered for the third consecutive game, his seventh of the year. Roman Anthony went 1-for-4 (.304 BA), opening the game with a triple. Marcelo Mayer was 0-for-4 with a strikeout (.274 BA).
Worcester falls under .500 at 20-21 and will throw Robert Stock (2-2, 3.41) tonight at 6:05 ET.
Game 1: Portland Sea Dogs 4, Somerset Patriots 2 (BOX)
Game 2: Somerset Patriots 3, Portland Sea Dogs 0 (BOX)
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The Sea Dogs played a pair of seven-inning games on Thursday, splitting the doubleheader, and now sit with a 19-12 record. Blake Wehunt got the ball in game one and threw five strong innings to get the win, striking out five and allowing a pair of solo home runs. All of the scoring for Portland occurred in the fourth inning, with RBI singles from Tyler Miller, Ahbram Liendo, and Max Ferguson, respectively. Ferguson also stole his tenth bag. Reidis “you can’t see me” Sena threw two shutout innings in relief to close the door, featuring his patented five knuckle shuffle.
In Game Two, Somerset (NYY) starter Brendan Beck and two relievers shut out the bats on just three hits. Yordanny Monegro pitched well for Portland, allowing two runs in five innings and striking out seven.
Portland throws Tyler Uberstine (0-1, 3.64) on Friday at 6:35 ET.
Greenville Drive 12, Hub City Spartanburgers (11 inn.) BOX
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The game of the day across all Sox affiliates didn’t need to be the game of the day, considering the Drive entered the ninth inning with a seven-run lead over Hub City (TEX). John Holobetz threw six strong innings and was backed up by nine runs prior to departing, including an Andy Lugo (3) home run and a Miguel Bleis RBI double.
Matt McShane relieved Holobetz, and after a clean two innings, was hit around in the ninth, allowing seven runs (five earned). After Hub City went ahead in the top of the tenth, the Drive tied the game on a balk, sending it to the eleventh. Marvin Alcantara tied the game on a single, and Nazzan Zanetello walked to score the winning run.
The Drive are now 17-19 and will send Noah Dean (0-0, 4.11) to the bump at 6:45 ET tonight.
Charleston RiverDogs 2, Salem Red Sox 1 (BOX)
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Salem got great pitching on Thursday against Charleston (TB), starting with Ben Hansen, who allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings, followed by relievers Nathanael Cruz and Manuel Medina, who allowed just an unearned run.
Yoeilin Cespedes drove in the lone Salem run with an RBI single in the fifth inning. Shortstop Fraymi De Leon was 3-for-4, and left fielder Karim Ayubi had two hits.
Austin Ehrlicher (1-2, 5.56) will throw on Friday for Salem, who are 15-20 on the season, at 7:05 ET.