Plus, Password hits another home run.
On the Red Sox’s day off, the affiliates went 4-1 including a double-header. Thursday featured four hits by Franklin Arias and a seven-inning complete game shutout. Let’s get into it!
Worcester: W, 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
A rare tough night for Roman Anthony, who struck out three times and went hitless. Who DID have a hit, though, was Password, mashing his third homer in a little more than a week. Dom Smith (yes, that Dom Smith) was a few inches from making this a tricky ball game following the Rail Riders’ (Yankees AAA) comeback against Bryan Mata but ended up leaving a few stranded. The WooSox were, of course, aided by Brian Van Belle’s seven strong innings. Following some short multi-inning relief and short starts in April, this is his third appearance in May in which he’s gone six innings or longer.
Portland, Game 1: W, 3-0 (BOX SCORE)
A complete (seven inning) game shutout for David Sandlin, striking out eight and allowing just three hits and walking one. The Sea Dogs needed this one, as Curve (Pirates AA) pitchers held the 1 through 7 batters hitless. Luckily, Tyler Miller and Max Ferguson drew walks Caden Rose’s two home runs paid dividends. All of Portland’s runs came via Rose longballs. Sandlin now has gone two starts without allowing a run in twelve innings and struck out fourteen in that time.
Portland, Game 2: W, 9-6 (BOX SCORE)
In a sharp contrast from game one, Isaac Coffey started things off smoothly, but Dalton Rogers allowed six runs in the fourth and the Sea Dogs mounted a comeback via two late home runs from Ferguson and Drew Ehrhard. By the way, for those in the “give Blaze Jordan a shot in Worcester” crowd, he went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Ferguson and Jordan are the caliber of players that can do the necessary things in close games (cough cough.)
Greenville: W, 10-4 (BOX SCORE)
Franklin Arias’ hit streak has now reached nine games. He’s hit .500 (20-for-40) in that span, and last night’s four hits were a major driving force in the win against the Blue Claws (Phillies High-A). Nelly Taylor started the offense off with a home run, followed by another by Andy Lugo in the second, and it just kept going from there. Peyton Tolle had a Brayan Bello-esque start (sort of…) 79 pitches, 49 for strikes, allowing just one run, before being unceremoniously pulled in the fifth but the bullpen kept the lead.
The bottom of the lineup came in clutch for Salem as it did for Portland Thursday, amounting to six of Salem’s nine hits. Try as they may, though, pitching couldn’t keep the ball in the park, as Steven Brooks allowed six runs in 2 2⁄3 innings and the bullpen gave up two home runs to the Mudcats (Brewers A). They did strike out fourteen batters, but giving up ten runs on seven hits does a lot to negate that feat, as does stranding ten. Salem was the only team to drop a game Thursday and drops to seven games below .500.
Have a happy Friday!