Minor Lines 4/17: Roman Anthony goes yard twice, WooSox no-hit Rochester

Plus, an extra-inning win in Game 2 for Worcester, and a frantic comeback by Greenville falls short.

Game 1: Worcester Red Sox 8, Rochester Red Wings 0 (BOX)

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After a postponement due to “cold” in Rochester (WAS) on Wednesday night, these teams played two seven-inning affairs on Thursday, and the opener did not disappoint.

In the top of the first, Roman Anthony led off the game with a solo home run, his third of the year, complete with some truly horrific camerawork.

The Woo Sox then added seven runs in the third to open up an 8-0 lead and break the game open early. After Nate Eaton had a two-run double, Roman Anthony stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and proceeded to plate four runs with one swing. He even got the @MLB Twitter treatment on his second home run of the day.

Not to be outdone, the pitching staff happened to throw a combined no-hitter as well in the seven-inning game. It was the second in Woo Sox history. Cooper Criswell breezed through the first four innings, striking out four. Isaiah Campbell threw the next two and gained the win since Criswell didn’t go five. Jacob Webb threw the seventh inning, with two strikeouts to finish it off.

Game 2: Worcester Red Sox 4, Rochester Red Wings 3 (8 Inn.) BOX

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In game two, the bats were quiet until the seventh inning. Trailing 2-0, the Woo Sox mounted a furious rally to take the lead. Philip Sikes doubled in Abraham Toro, Yasmani Grandal doubled in Sikes, and then Tyler McDonough’s RBI single scored Grandal, to give Worcester a 3-2 lead. Nick Burdi, who has been electric in the early goings, gave a run back in the bottom of the seventh.

Burdi still managed to get the win when Toro singled in the zombie runner in the top of the eighth, and Brendan Cellucci locked down his first save. Toro was the hero at the plate in this one, tallying three hits, a run, and an RBI to improve his average to .346. Marcelo Mayer went 0-for-3 and is now hitting .193. Anthony walked and stole a base in this one, but was held hitless.

After the doubleheader, the 20-year-old Anthony now sports a .283/.433/.585 slash line in 15 games with a 176 wRC+. Jake Reiser asked the “when will Anthony be called up” question this morning and cited the fact that the Red Sox want Anthony to be playing the outfield every day before he can be called up. He’s been limited to DH over the past week due to a shoulder issue. @RedSoxStats has pointed out that if Anthony finishes in the top two in the Rookie of the Year voting, he would retroactively be awarded a year of service time and that could sway the team to hold him down. Let’s hope the reasoning is the former, rather than the latter.

Worcester is now 8-8 and will start Robert Stock (1-0, 0.79) in a matinee at 1:05 ET on Friday.

Hartford Yard Goats 6, Portland Sea Dogs 3 (BOX)

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The Sea Dogs opened up a 3-0 lead early in this one, thanks to home runs by shortstop Mikey Romero and catcher Enderso Lira. Starter Blake Wehunt gave it back, however, by allowing six runs (three earned) over five innings, while striking out seven. Hartford (COL) took the 6-3 lead in the fifth, before the game quieted down for the last four innings.

Romero had three hits on the day, improving his average to .270. Jhostynxon Garcia and Ahbram Liendo also tallied two hits apiece, each improving their averages over .300 on the season. Alex Hoppe threw three shutout innings in relief, striking out five.

The 7-3 Sea Dogs will send Tyler Uberstine (0-0, 6.23) to the mound on Friday at 7:10.

Winston-Salem Dash 8, Greenville Drive 6 (10 inn.) BOX

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Another chaotic extra-inning game went down in Greenville on Thursday. Noah Dean started this one and didn’t have it, allowing five baserunners in two-thirds of an inning. He threw 34 pitches before pulled, in favor of Max Carlson who threw 4 1/3 strong innings in relief, allowing one run. Adam Smith followed him striking out eight batters in four innings.

Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth, where the Drive trailed the Dash (CWS) 5-0 and mounted a frantic comeback. Juan Chacon singled in two runs, Juan Montero doubled in two more, and then Fraymi De Leon doubled in the fifth run to tie the game.

Albert Feliz was brought in for the Drive, and he allowed three runs in the tenth, leading to an exciting 8-6 loss.

The teams will play at 6:45 tonight, with Greenville’s pitcher TBD.

Lynchburg Hillcats 4, Salem Red Sox 1 (BOX)

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A quiet night at the plate for the Salem squad, who knocked in their lone run on a sacrifice fly by Antonio Anderson in the bottom of the ninth. Devin Futrell got the start and threw three spotless innings, striking out three. Luis Cohen did not fare as well, allowing three runs in relief to the Hillcats (CLE), before Joe Vogatsky pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings.

Franklin Arias, per usual, was the highlight for Salem at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. He is now hitting .404.

Blake Aita (1-1, 2.70) will start for Salem on Friday at 6:35.