We need bullpen help, here is bullpen help. Could it be that simple?
Remember Friday, night, when no matter how many runs the Red Sox scored against the Orioles, it still didn’t seem like enough support? Well, the same thing happened in half the minor league games on Sunday! If you like good pitching, today isn’t a day to read this article… but at least a much-awaited bullpen arm is finally getting real reps against batters with service time… and he didn’t even allow a baserunner. Also, Bobby Dalbec continues to play out of his mind in Worcester but what else it’s new? What isn’t new is the phrase I use before my recaps…. let’s get into it!
Worcester: W, 10-8 (BOX SCORE)
Yes, Liam Hendriks is back rehabbing, and it’s awesome that he’s finding his way back given the way this bullpen has performed of late; he had a perfect inning following Jason Alexander’s start. I sustain that Wyatt Olds needs to start next year in Portland, but also surmise that Jamie Westbrook, who’s been hitting all week, may be a guy in need of a platoon gig on another Major League squad next year following success worthy of a Netflix story.
This victory over the IronPigs (Phillies AAA) came courtesy of a five-run feast in the bottom of the seventh, featuring a Kyle Teel 2-out bases loaded single to score a run and a rare Bobby Dalbec triple to empty the bases and put the Sox up 10-7. I must say, the duality of a guy just making his first notches in this organization and a guy who’s so polarizing and who’s had his fair share of impressions over the last half-decade is kind of funny in juxtaposition, if you think about it.
Back to Hendriks: completely understand that some hesitancy is needed as he takes time to build back after more than a year on the injury list, but a player with this pedigree hopefully will become more of a (2023) Chris Martin in the pen rather than a (recent) Luis Garcia. Fingers crossed!
Portland: L, 3-7 (BOX SCORE)
David Sandlin had perhaps his worst performance of the season and was pulled by the third inning; this was also the worst team of the day to allow that type of offense to, as Portland struggled against the Rumble Ponies (Mets AA) pitching. They managed just three hits on the day, two of them home runs; all of Portland’s runs were scored via those dingers. In fact, there were no runs scored at all in the game after the top of the sixth. There were, however, two defensive errors to account for, which is harmful even when you don’t give up eleven hits.
Greenville: L, 3-7 (BOX SCORE)
Greenville suffered a similar fare as Portland, although they managed more hits. Though final reliever Bryce Bonnin locked things up, Dalton Rogers allowed four runs in as many innings, though he did strike out six IronBirds (Orioles AA), and Jeremy Wu-Yelland didn’t have an easier go at it. The defensive bug also hit Greenville, as they committed three errors on the day Sunday. It wasn’t all bad, though; the Drive couldn’t stop running on the IronBirds, stealing five bags on the day and being caught just once. Also, keep paying attention to first baseman Bryan Gonzalez. He’s slashed .333/.425/.424 in August. (I’ll worry about his slugging being surpassed by his OBP later, since he’s hit 17 home runs on the season.)
Greenville: L, 9-11 (BOX SCORE)
Another high scoring contest, like Worcester, but sometimes you’re the hammer, sometimes you get nailed. As in, giving up more pitching blunders; even though the Sox sat down 13 Nationals on strikes, Fredricksburg had scored four by the bottom of the second, and the bullpen blew a save opportunity. Nelly Taylor had a heck of a game though; he finished a home run shy of the cycle and drove in three runs, keeping the contest close. Ultimately, though, Taylor was one of the only Sox capitalizing; the team as a whole swung 4-for-20 with runners in scoring position and stranded ten.
Have a happy Monday, everyone!