11 strikeouts, two baserunners, seven innings. That’s a good night, right?
As if Tyler O’Neill smacking a ball clear into orbit wasn’t satisfying enough in the midst of a playoff race, there’s more good news. Worcester looked every bit like a Major League team facing Syracuse. Vaughn Grissom had Mets number 18 prospect Mike Vasil figured out, launching two home runs off of him early. Plus, we had quite a strong presence on the mound. Jason Alexander had complete control of the game— so much so that you may think he was master of his doma… you know what, if you know the reference, you know it.
Portland may have dropped their game as their season winds down, but they have some usual suspects and new additions hitting down there, as well. For one of the last times in 2024, I say… let’s get into it!
Worcester: W, 7-0 (BOX SCORE)
Jason Alexander had perhaps the best performance a Red Sox minor league pitcher has had all season in this Wednesday night game against the Mets of Syracuse. I’ll wait for any arguments, but in the meantime, let me purvey the facts: for those who start saying things like “it’s too soon to say what I can’t say yet,” know that Jason Alexander had six strikeouts through the first four frames and he had a perfect game going before old friend Yolmer Sanchez spoiled it in the fifth. Still, Alexander would exude confidence through the duration of his start, giving up just one more hit without a walk and punching out eleven total. Zach Penrod and Alex Speas were just as commanding and didn’t allow another baserunner.
A WooSox lineup that included you, the reader, or I, who significantly lacks athletic ability, would have been able to win tonight behind that pitching. Luckily, they had Vaughn Grissom in their corner with two early home runs to make any comeback improbable. Grissom has slashed .429/.625/.905 this month, which I’d say is pretty good, but your mileage may vary. Chase Meidroth drove in some runs of his own among a three-hit night. The WooSox have now won five straight and are 2.5 out of a playoff spot with ten games remaining.
Portland: L, 4-8 (BOX SCORE)
On the contrary, after winning four straight last week, Portland has now started their final series of the regular season 0-2 against the Rumble Ponies. (Mets AA) Blake Wehunt got touched-up in his five innings, giving up five hits and the bullpen wasn’t too much better. The Sea Dogs saw their chances of winning rise to 39.1% after Elih Marrero homered to score Allan Castro (a guy who’s got it figured out thus far) to make it 4-3 in the fourth inning, but that was the biggest spark the offense would get all night. They stranded twelve, struck out thirteen times, went 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position, and committed two errors, neither of which is conducive to a team aiming to mount a comeback. Silver lining: Ahbram Liendo got three hits in the nine-slot, and Blaze Jordan had a double.
Have a happy Thursday!