It’s been a theme, but he’ll be rejoining the team shortly.
Life was a box of could be better Friday. The Patriots hit what might be a home run in the second round of the NFL draft, but the Celtics lost, albeit without Jayson Tatum and they still hold a 2-1 series lead. The Red Sox got rained out in Cleveland, but a potential spot start or multi-inning relief appearance from an arm that now sits in Worcester doesn’t appear out of the question at some point in the next couple days. Speaking of relief, a focal point of this article will be Lucas Giolito’s final rehab appearance with Worcester, as well as the six walks he issued in his 85 pitches. Let’s get into it.
Worcester: L, 3-8 (BOX SCORE)
Baseball’s a funny game. You can score 14 runs against a team one night, and then, the very next night, you can strand nine guys and fail to get much of anything going, like the WooSox did behind Lucas Giolito’s final(???) rehab start against the Syracuse Mets. Earlier this week, my ever-eloquent colleague, Matt Gross, broke down some contract contingencies that could dictate how the Red Sox use Giolito going forward in 2025. Let me be clear: you love to root for a guy like Giolito gutting it out nearly two years since he last appeared on a Major League mound. But, I’ll be candid: I don’t see much about this start, or anything he’s shown since Spring Training ended, to get excited about regarding a return, and I don’t see him nearing that hollowed discount opt-in threshold of 140 innings even if he does stay healthy… especially not if it’s taking him 85 pitches to go through 4 2⁄3 innings against a middling Triple-A lineup. I am, however, as all of you likely are, increasingly intrigued by Roman Anthony’s ability to get on base, score runs, and lead off games with hits, all of which he did on Friday night.
Portland: W, 2-1 (BOX SCORE)
Portland had their second walk off in this week’s series against the Fightin Phils of Reading and won their fourth straight game behind a dependable David Sandlin start. It’s cool to see Sandlin starting games and doing so quite well, and even cooler to see the bullpen hold Reading hitless, which gave them enough leverage in the ninth to enjoy a leadoff Tyler Miller walk-off solo shot. Miller, who had three of the team’s five hits on the night, now has five RBI’s in the last two nights, and some added versatility of playing dependable baseball in a position besides the one he got drafted at (drafted at 3B, plays 1B.)
Greenville: L, 2-6 (BOX SCORE)
Greenville had fifteen at-bats with runners in scoring position and had just one hit, also failing to capitalize on Spartanburg’s (Rangers High-A) two defensive errors. This was in part due to pitching that left some to be desired, but also striking out fourteen times cannot help, nor can getting nine hits without an extra base hit.
Salem: L, 4-6 (BOX SCORE)
More sketchy pitching, though it helps that Franklin Arias is continuing to mash and keep that OPS around .800 even with a lack of power. Plus, utility player Yosander Acensio hit his first home run in Salem to pull the team ahead 4-2 in the fourth inning. Salem, unfortunately, did nothing after this score, and there was too much game left for the pitching to allow some Hickory (Rangers A) runs to cross.
Have a happy double-header Saturday!