![Sea Dogs vs. New Hampshire](https://www.bostonsports.today/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1258876751.0.jpg)
Alex Binelas has silently had a successful season that really showed its face Wednesday. But what, ultimately, is his value?
Happy Fourth of July, OTM Nation. Those hoping for fireworks a night early got some via some different faces as the Red Sox took an early series win against the Marlins. The farm also had a way of passing the baton, but with more mixed results, though mostly positive! Wednesday also saw some lower affiliates retire, if even for a night, lasting tropes that have defined their season. While there may not have been anything as explosive or invigorating as a bases-clearing double in the ninth by Ceddanne Rafaela to really bust a game open, a fair number of guys got their licks in. Let’s get into it!
Worcester: L, 6-8 (BOX SCORE)
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Thank goodness for Eddy Alvarez, who got five hits against the Syracuse Mets amidst a team who left thirteen men stranded. Two of Alvarez’s hits went for extra bases (a home run and a double), while both Bobby Dalbec and Nick Yorke struggled (though at least Yorke drew two walks.) Aside from a one-two, or rather, a six-seven punch of Alvarez and Yorke’s performance, there wasn’t enough to make up for a middling-at-best showing on the mound. The Sal Romano experience should be over shortly given Portland’s options in their bullpen to supplement Worcester’s thin relief, but who would stay if by any chance… well, I won’t even say anything about the Sox’s recently healthy bullpen.
Portland: W, 8-5 (BOX SCORE)
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Kristian Campbell does it again. He made a difference right away with a first-inning double to capitalize on Roman Anthony’s lead-off double. The Sea Dogs never faltered even with Juan Daniel Encarnacion’s early struggles following a promising promotion (though I am confident he’ll get there.)
This game may have been doomed if not for Alex Binelas; he finished up a double play to retire two Fisher Cats (Blue Jays AA) and, in the seventh, he smacked a go-ahead grand slam as Portland never looked back. It’s a whole other discussion to analyze Binelas’ value outside of a vacuum and pontificate on the Hunter Renfroe trade, but in addition to David Hamilton’s great performance in Boston, this is promising to see. Binelas might be in AAA in an organization that doesn’t have as much of a logjam. While there are more intriguing prospects to watch MOST nights, maybe Binelas is someone to pay attention to as the trade deadline looms.
Greenville: W, 4-2 (BOX SCORE)
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A lately-questionable pitching staff had three members boast a strong showing Wednesday night, including a recently-promoted Jedixson Paez who continues to cruise. The Tourists (Astros High-A) got off to a 2-0 lead and held a 2-1 lead late, but Greenville fired back in a clutch manner via a lead-off Eduardo Lopez triple to start the ninth followed by a mini-rally (if you can call two runs that… but in this case, I will!)
Salem: W, 11-5 (BOX SCORE)
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Just as Greenville proved their pitching could turn it on for a night, Salem’s hitting in Lynchburg (Guardians A) flourished after five consecutive losses and directly following a shutout. Salem actually entered the ninth inning anticipating a save situation leading 4-3 thanks to a go-ahead shot by Albert Feliz, who’s consistently been a go-to in the bottom of the Sox’s lineup, but the Hillcats committed a fielding error to open the ninth and Salem made them pay with this sequence: RBI double, walk, force out to advance runners, single, Zanetello hit by pitch, ground out to advance runners, single, hit by pitch, another throwing error to score two. While I won’t credit Salem with forcing Lynchburg into two errors in the same inning, I’ll credit them with continuing to put the ball in places to advance runners and get guys around the bases.
Pick up an Impossible Burger in my honor for your cookouts today, even if you don’t like them, and enjoy your Fourth.