Red Sox Minor League Report: All Sox Affiliates Take Victories as Justin Gonzales Blasts First Portland Homer

[Ayden Mason]

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Season Record: 63-54

Worcester broke their four-game losing skid with a 9-7 victory against the Syracuse Mets (New York Mets).

After collecting just two hits in the game prior, the WooSox put up 11 hits and an outrageous 10 walks. Facing a 3-0 deficit in the fourth, Allan Castro put his squad on the board with an RBI groundout. 

Now staring down a 5-1 Syracuse lead, the Sox put two runners on base just for Jason Delay to send them in with a two-run double. In his first rehab assignment game, Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a bloop single into right field to put two guys aboard once again, then came Trevor Story, who roped an RBI single into center field to make it a one-run game. Romy Gonzalez came through in a clutch moment, blasting a three-run homer to give Worcester their first lead of the game, 7-5.

The Mets tried clawing back, but a bases-loaded Mikey Romero walk and a pinch-hit Franklin Arias RBI single brought in two more insurance runs. Hobie Harris closed out the ninth inning for a 9-7 victory. 

Standout Performances: 

• Trevor Story: 2-for-4, R, RBI
• Romy Gonzalez: 1-for-5, HR, R, 3 RBI

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Season Record: 60-55

Portland took the second game of the series 6-4 against the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies).

Even without Roman Anthony in the lineup, who is taking the day off and scheduled to play in the outfield for the next game, this Sea Dogs lineup still looks exciting, filled with some of Boston’s most intriguing prospects.

At this point, anything Justin Gonzales does should not be a surprise; the 19-year-old has done nothing but rake and throw guys out with his cannon of an arm. Leading off in the first, Gonzales set the tone early with a blast to right-center field to put Portland up 1-0. 

The runs did stop there, however; Jack Winnay got on base after getting plunked by a pitch, then shortstop Henry Godbout put the Sea Dogs up 3-0 after crushing a two-run homer over the monster, now hitting a homer in back-to-back games. 

The Fightin Phils actually outhit Portland with nine hits to their six, but the home runs powered their way to victory. Reading made it interesting in the fifth after making it a one-run game, but Tyler McDonough crushed their hopes of coming back after smoking a three-run shot to extend their lead 6-2. 

Portland ran a bullpen game for this matchup; while spending all season in a relief role, Steven Brooks made his first start. The former 11th-round pick was solid through 2 ⅔ innings, giving up just one run and punching out five. Joe Vogatsky earned the win with 2 ⅓ innings of work while allowing one run as well. Cooper Adams followed afterward with three innings in his bulk role, allowing two runs (one unearned) with three strikeouts, then Reidis Sena closed it out in the ninth inning to earn his sixth save of the season.

Standout Performances:

• Justin Gonzales: 1-for-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
• Tyler McDonough: 1-for-3, HR, R, 3 RBI
• Henry Godbout: 1-for-3, R, 2 RBI

High-A Greenville Drive

Season Record: 51-62

Dominant pitching performances led to a 5-1 victory over the Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox).

Even with the offense doing its job, Greenville’s pitching staff was absolutely dealing in this game, striking out 20 batters. Jacob Mayers struck out seven Dash batters through 3 ⅓ innings while allowing just one hit. Aaron Nixon threw the final 1 ⅓ innings and punched out three.

Brady Tygart had arguably the most dominant relief appearance this season in the minors. Although he gave up one run, Tygart struck out 10 batters (six were swings and misses) in just 4 ⅓ innings. It is not normal for pitchers to punch out that many batters in that short span.

With how excellent the pitching staff was, a three-run third inning for the Drive was all they needed. Jake Schaffner's third double of the season brought in two runs, followed by Luke Heyman’s RBI single, which made it a 3-0 game. Yophery Rodriguez’s 24th double of the season in the sixth also brought in two runs, extending Greenville’s lead to 5-1.

Standout Performances: 

• Brady Tygart: 4 ⅓ IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
• Jacob Mayers: 3 ⅓ IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Season Record: 51-63

An all-around stellar performance from Salem led to an 8-0 blowout against the Wilson Warbirds (Milwaukee Brewers).

Andrews Opata had half of the RBIs the Yaks scored; a three-run bomb in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth made it a 5-0 game. Avinson Pinto brought in two of his own immediately after, smacking a two-run double to extend Salem’s lead to 7-0. D’Angelo Ortiz and Kleyver Salazar provided the other two runs, an RBI single from Salazar in the first, and an RBI single from Ortiz in the ninth. 

Christian Fouch and Ethan Walker were amazing for Salem, combining for nine one-hit innings. The only hit given up came in the first inning, then that was it. Fouch walked just one batter and struck out three batters through five innings. Walker cruised through the last four innings, allowing two walks but zero hits, along with four punchouts. 

Standout Performances:

• Christian Fouch: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Ethan Walker: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
• Andrews Opata: 1-for-3, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB, SB

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