If there can be just one even in recent memory…
The organization went 4-1 Tuesday, including the Red Sox eking one out in Houston. There were more close calls last night, too. Two consistencies were solid starting pitching (well, for the most part) and every game was considered a save (or walk-off) situation. This is meaningful baseball whether it has Major League implications or not. And none play to those implications quite like Roman Anthony, who hit his first triple-A home run and had a clutch late-innings double in addition to two more hits. Let’s get into it!
Worcester: W, 8-5 (BOX SCORE)
Shane Drohan was again not on his game in this one, being pulled in the fourth in Norfolk (Orioles AAA) after allowing eight baserunners. But with a leadoff man like Roman Anthony, you don’t have to be on every night. Anthony finished the game a triple shy of the cycle, and drove in the go-ahead runs in the eighth inning, giving the WooSox a lead that a Nick Sogard double would add to. And how about Kristian Campbell, himself driving in three runs? It’s honestly funny seeing the Triple-A squad full of players that either will be on the Major League roster shortly (some may argue not soon enough, but give em time) or players that were just up in Boston within the last few weeks, and it’s even better when they all perform. It’s almost like this is what roster composition at this level should be!
Portland: L, 0-1 (BOX SCORE)
Nothing worse than losing a tight game, except for when the pitching was nails at closing out innings. But the fact of the matter is, the Sea Dogs got fewer hits than errors off of the Patriots (Yankees AA). Nathan Hickey, who hadn’t been seeing the ball well up in Worcester and switched places with Kyle Teel last week, notched the only hit of the game for Portland. It wasn’t like the pitching wasn’t solid; Hunter Dobbins again looked fantastic, striking seven out in six innings. Even Juan Daniel Encarnacion had his best outing since being promoted, which doesn’t say a whole lot, but he went three strong and unfortunately gave up the game’s only run.
Greenville: W, 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
Greenville has a Great Value Big Three blooming in Mikey Romero, Bryan Gonazlez and Ronald Rosario; the only difference is Gonzalez plays first instead of the outfield. Rosario had two clutch RBI’s in this one against Rome (Braves High-A) to back up yet another fantastic outing from Yordanny Monegro, who’s really stringing the good starts together late in the season. Greenville’s season ends shortly, so it may worth it to fly him to Maine and assess his skills there.
Salem: W, 8-7 (BOX SCORE)
Nelly Taylor has now had three hits in two consecutive games. After a pretty horrifying two months to start the summer off, the outfielder has slashed .326/.410/.435 in August. Salem stranded nine which kept things interesting, but it was Franklin Arias with a two-run, two-out game tying double in the eighth. The play had a .428 WPA. And, funny enough, in the ninth, the game ended on a balk following two other walks in the frame!
Have a happy Wednesday!