Nick Pivetta lacked control in his rehab start for Worcester and hates the ABS system. Kristian Campbell homered for the third consecutive game for Greenville.
Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 7, Worcester Red Sox 1 (BOX)
Philadelphia’s Triple-A squad, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs won a 7-1 matchup on Thursday night. Nick Pivetta got the ball in a rehab start at Worcester and the results were less than stellar. Pivetta struck out five in three innings, allowing four runs on seven baserunners (four walks). He started the fourth, but couldn’t get an out, and the Iron Pigs ran away with the ballgame in that inning. Fortunately, Pivetta had some nice things to say about his minor league experience postgame.
Nick Pivetta postgame on the ABS system:
“I hate it. It’s terrible. Hopefully it never comes to baseball.”
— Chris Henrique (@ChrisHenrique) May 2, 2024
Perhaps this was Nick’s way of saying that he doesn’t need another rehab start. His velocity was there, maxing out at 96.4 and averaging 94.7, which was his exact Fastball average in 2023. Over his first two starts in 2024 in Boston, his fastball averaged 94.1. Even with a shaky outing, he has to be better than Chase Anderson. Get him up here.
Not much to speak of on the hitting side of things, as the lone run was scored on catcher Mark Kolozsvary’s RBI double in the second inning. I continue to be fascinated by Chase Meidroth’s daily performances. He didn’t have a hit but he walked three times in five plate appearances as the lead-off hitter, which is just what he does, increasing his OBP to .455 over 25 games. His walk rate is up to 22.7% to go with a 10.0 K%. Beyond the Mayer/Anthony/Teel trio, if there’s one prospect I want to see what he might offer at the highest level, it’s Meidroth. Just to know whether he could be a professional pain-in-the-ass in the same way he’s been at every level of the minor leagues, as Matt broke down in far greater detail last week.
On Friday night, Worcester’s Jason Alexander (1-2, 4.76) will take on Tyler Phillips (3-1, 3.94) at 6:05 ET at home.
Reading Fightin Phils vs. Portland Sea Dogs – PPD
The second of two Philly/Boston battles was rained out on Thursday night between the Reading Fightin Phils and the Portland Sea Dogs. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday. On Friday night, Portland’s Angel Bastardo (0-1, 2.89) will take on Matt Osterberg (0-2, 5.29) at 6:00 ET at home.
Greenville Drive 8, Asheville Tourists 2 (BOX)
The Greenville Drive took down the Asheville Tourists (HOU) 8-2 on Thursday night, in Asheville. Second baseman Kristian Campbell stayed on fire, homering (4) in his third consecutive game, and finishing the game 4-for-4, also adding a double and a walk, jumping his batting average from .222 to .276 in one game. Campbell now has a 176 wRC+ on the season. As Chris Clegg points out, he’s also made great improvements with his exit velocity this year. A fourth round compensatory pick a year ago, this is a player to get excited about.
Kristian Campbell did not hit a ball harder than 109 mph last year in college with a metal bat. This year he already has two HR north of that mark with 113 and 110 mph. https://t.co/0yXGlqHiPB
— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) May 2, 2024
First baseman Eduardo Lopez added three hits and two RBI and leadoff third baseman Ahbram Liendo added his 8th and 9th steals of the year. Hayden Mullins got the start, and picked up his first win of the season, throwing five innings of one-run ball, allowing seven baserunners, and striking out four.
Luis Perales (0-1, 5.00) gets the ball for the Drive on Friday night at 6:35 ET against James Hicks (first appearance).
Salem Red Sox 5, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3 (BOX)
The Salem Red Sox picked up a 5-3 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs). Third-round pick Antonio Anderson has struggled out of the gate but picked up two hits on Thursday night. Andy Lugo’s two-run double in the sixth inning put Salem ahead to stay, 4-2, and was the difference in the game. Luis Cohen got the start and was solid for five innings, allowing two runs, and striking out three but did not get the win. That went to reliever Michael Sansone who threw three innings, allowing one run. Royman Blanco got his first save.
The teams will play again Friday at 7:05 ET. Jedixson Paez (0-1, 3.21) throws for Salem against Marino Santy (0-0, 5.06).