Red Sox Minor League Report: Portland and Greenville Roll to Wins Behind Strong Offensive Showings

[Ben Lofy]

Let’s check in on the Red Sox farm teams through Friday's action. 

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Series vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees): 2-2
Season Record: 65-60

The WooSox fell 2-0 as they struggled to generate offense. 

John Holobetz got the start on Friday night, looking to give the WooSox a series lead. He turned in a quality start, letting up two runs on five hits and issuing one walk. He struck out a pair before John Brebbia took over. Holobetz earned the loss despite the solid start. Brebbia threw a scoreless sixth inning as the bullpen gave the offense plenty of room to run. Brebbia allowed one hit and walked another. He struck out one before Angel Bastrado took the seventh and eighth in scoreless fashion. He K’d two and walked one before Hobie Harris took the final inning. Harris struck out the side, issuing one walk as he completed a great bullpen outing despite the loss. 

The WooSox reached base just five times on Friday, tallying three hits and drawing two walks in the loss. Franklin Arias accounted for one of the hits, a double in the ninth. Nate Eaton and Romy Gonzales recorded a single each as Worcester fell without much noise.

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Series @ Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants): 3-1
Season Record: 63-60

Portland dominated in a 9-3 win behind a solid start from Devin Futrell. 

Futrell had allowed two runs in his two previous starts entering Friday, and looked to match his solid outings. He did just that, allowing two runs on four hits in six frames of work. He issued one walk and notched seven punchouts before being replaced by Cooper Adams. Adams followed Futrell with a solid appearance of his own, allowing one earned run on three hits. He struck out four before Erik Rivera took over. Rivera was outstanding as he shut down Richmond, striking out two in a perfect ninth-inning close.

The Sea Dogs’ offense was unstoppable on Friday, tallying 17 baserunners and taking control of the game early. In the first, Justin Gonzales scored Tyler McDonough on a line drive to right field before Ronald Rosario drove Gonzales home on a two-run blast. In the second, McDonough followed Rosario with a two-run shot of his own, giving Portland a 5-0 lead early. In the sixth inning, Brooks Brannon joined the two-run homer party, scoring McDonough as he touched them all for the 20th time this season. With a 7-2 lead, Will Turner gave Portland some cushion as he scored Brannon and Henry Godbout on a line drive double to right field.  

High-A Greenville Drive

Series vs. Rome Emperors (Atlanta Braves): 3-1
Season Record: 55-66

A great day from the pitching staff helped Greenville to a 6-2 win on Friday night. 

Yordanny Monegro made his first appearance of the season on a rehab assignment from Portland. He threw one and ⅔ hitless innings, issuing three walks and striking out three more. Shea Sprague came in next in a bulk relief role. He hurled five and ⅓ innings to the tune of two runs on three hits. He issued a pair of walks and struck out six as he kept Rome’s offense in check, earning his fourth win of the season. Aaron Nixon took the final two innings of Friday’s game, allowing three hits but hindering Rome any further. He struck out three as he closed out the win. 

Owen Hull and Luke Heyman drove in two runs each as Greenville’s offense triumphed behind a combined effort. Heyman’s contributions came early as he crushed a two-run homer in the first inning, scoring Hull. Hull would follow in Heyman’s footsteps just two innings later, covering a two-run shot of his own with Jake Schaffner aboard. With a 4-1 lead, Yophery Rodriguez kept the inning going, scoring Maximus Martin on a double to right field. In the eighth, Isaiah Jackson added one more as he scored on a wild pitch. 

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Series @ Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Houston Astros): 0-5
Season Record: 52-70

Salem’s losing streak reached five as the Yaks fell 6-2 on Friday evening.

Leighton Finley turned in an excellent start to kick things off for Salem, shutting down Fayetteville over six frames. He allowed four hits and issued a pair of walks as he struck out nine, his second-most all season and most since late June. Trouble arose when Carson Revay entered the game. He let up four runs (three unearned) on two hits and a pair of walks as the Woodpeckers pulled ahead. Harry Blum entered to quell the storm but was unsuccessful. He allowed two runs on two hits and a pair of walks in just ⅓ of an inning as Fayetteville claimed a solid lead late. 

Kleyvar Salazar was responsible for both of the Yaks’ runs on Friday as the offense struggled. After being held scoreless for the first five frames, Salazar took one deep into left field, scoring D’Angelo Ortiz as Salem claimed the first lead of the game. Salem wouldn’t score again as they fell for the fifth straight contest.

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[moonslav59]

Some of these draftees and recently promoted-to-ier-level prospects have started to shine.

1.214 Gonzales at AA

.991 Primera at Salem (15 XBs in 39 games)

.957 Hull at GRE

.857 Brito at SAL

.804 Winnay at AA

.799 Jo Garcia at AA (14 HRs in 280 ABs)

.780 Schaffner at GRE

.721 Godbout at AA (4 Hrs is 13 games)