Could Worcester call the arm up in the waning days of the season?
The 2024 Red Sox have never been more over than they are right now. So the question becomes, what are the front office’s next steps? No, not in the offseason… at the end of Worcester’s season. Wednesday may have added some clarity in that regard. A certain pitcher acquired for Nick Yorke had a great showing, and some sought-after prospects (like Roman Anthony, who has been named the number two prospect in baseball) had a clutch day. Let’s get into it.
Worcester: W, 7-0 (BOX SCORE)
Six scoreless innings and eight strikeouts by Quinn Priester can possibly make him an easy callup for a team that is trying to convince people they are still in the midst of a playoff race they’re not in. Yohan Ramirez and Bailey Horn also held the fort down on the mound to preserve the shutout against the Red Wings (Nationals AAA). Roman Anthony has also figured out Triple-A pitching well enough to make a case to see what he’s got; and I know no one wants to hear this, but one Bobby Dalbec had multiple hits himself.
Portland, Game 1: L, 1-6 (BOX SCORE)
Portland dropped both of their game in this double header in Manchester, New Hampshire (Blue Jays AA). Wikelman Gonzalez’s pitching gave a lot to be desired, as did the two hits Portland’s lineup accumulated. Mikey Romero and Jhonstynxon Garcia are both figuring Double-A pitching out after their recent promotions, but that was it. Two total bases on the night…. no way to win with that.
Portland, Game 2: L, 1-3 (BOX SCORE)
Rob Kwiatkowski and Brendan Cellucci held their own, but in turn, New Hampshire’s pitching held the Sea Dogs to almost no chances. Three hits, all singles… that means fourteen innings with no extra base hits. Sure, it’s an anticlimactic part of the season for this to happen after the logjam is cleared; but the likes of Alex Binelas may be ripe for the picking for another team come the winter.
Greenville: L, 0-1 (BOX SCORE)
1-0. The worst score to lose by, signifying more hitting woes by the farm Wednesday. Sure, The Drive drew seven walks…. and left seven on. Hudson White and Nelly Taylor are the only two batters to secure hits against the Dash (White Sox High-A); on a lighter note, Hayden Mullins threw 5 2⁄3 scoreless innings in relief and gave up just three hits. Even though this game was technically decided in the first, it still was a solid effort by the pitching staff.
Salem: W, 7-6 (BOX SCORE)
Pitching didn’t do the job in this one, but it didn’t matter; Salem got outhit, too, even though they got six of their seven hits with runners in scoring position, culminating in Albert Feliz turning the tables on the Cannon Ballers (White Sox A) in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run double. If the organization wasn’t full of catchers, it may be time to see Brooks Brannon straight up to Maine in a week when Salem’s season is over; even though Nazzan Zannatello committed yet another error in the field, but he did manage the farm’s only triple. It’s a rough landing for Salem’s last series, but at least this is a W.
Happy Thursday.