Red Sox Daily Minor League Report: Anthony Eyanson Twirls Another Gem In Second Start For Portland

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox 

Season Record: 23-21

A back-and-forth game turned into a comeback that came up just short for Worcester in their 7-6 loss to the Rochester Red Wings (Washington Nationals).

The WooSox grabbed an early lead in the first inning when Nate Eaton ripped a leadoff double and came around to score on an Anthony Seigler single. Rochester tied it up 1-1 at the top of the third with a solo homer; afterwards, Worcester added another in the bottom half. Tsung-Che Cheng doubled, and Mikey Romero drove him in with a double of his own to make it 2-1.

The fourth inning unraveled for starter Raymond Burgos. Rochester strung together three singles and a bases-loaded walk to score three runs and take a 3-2 lead. However, the WooSox answered right back in the bottom half, back-to-back walks to Allan Castro and Matt Lloyd got things started, then a fielder's choice loaded the bases, and Cheng hit an RBI groundout that brought Castro home to tie it at 3-3.

The fifth inning gave Burgos a rough time again, giving up a lead-off walk and back-to-back hits to give up a run as he got pulled from the game right after in a 4-3 game. Noah Song came into the game, inheriting a runner on second and third base. Both runners scored due to an RBI groundout and a single to give the Red Wings a comfortable 6-3 lead.

Rochester belted another solo shot at the top of the seventh to make it 7-3, but the bottom half is where the WooSox started a rally. Cheng worked a seven-pitch walk, Eaton singled, Romero advanced the runners with a groundout then Kristian Campbell got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Seigler delivered the big blow with his second hit of the game, a two-run single to cut it to 7-5. Vinny Capra followed up with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-6. Castro singled to keep the pressure on, but Lloyd flew out to end the threat one run short.

Worcester had a couple more chances to at least tie the game in the eighth and ninth, having two runners on base with one out in each inning, but they could not capitalize.

Although they came up short in the end, there were some standout performances for the WooSox. Eaton, Seigler, Castro, and Cheng all got on base three times and delivered some big hits.

Key Performances:

• Anthony Seigler: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, BB
• Nate Eaton: 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R,
• Tsung-Che Cheng: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB
• Allan Castro: 2-for-4, R, SB

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Season Record: 18-21

The Sea Dogs' pitching staff dominates at home against the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies) with a shutout 2-0 victory.

Starting on the mound, Southern California native Anthony Eyanson made his second Double-A start and was brilliant once again over five innings, lowering his Double-A ERA to 1.00 and his season ERA to 0.61. Although his stuff was not as great as his past starts, throwing three walks and his fastball velocity was more down than usual, averaging 92-94 mph, he still didn't allow a single hit in five shutout frames and struck out four while generating eight whiffs. Eyanson also mixed in a new cutter, which averaged around 90-91 mph.

Joe Vogatsky came out of the bullpen to pitch the sixth, throwing two scoreless innings and surrendering Reading's only two hits while striking out four. Reidis Sena slammed the door in the final two innings, striking out five batters without allowing a baserunner to earn the save.

Portland's offense was not particularly on point in this matchup but the two runs was all they needed. With two outs in the second inning, Nelly Taylor reached base on an infield single, then stole a base in the next at-bat. Ahbram Liendo put the Sea Dogs on the board first with an RBI single, bringing in Taylor to make it a 1-0 lead. 

With the game still at 1-0 in the seventh, Liendo reached base once again with a walk, then immediately stole his seventh bag of the season while advancing to third base on a throwing error from the catcher. Franklin Arias followed up with his second knock of the game, an RBI single to bring in Liendo, making it a 2-0 game. 

Key Performances:

• Anthony Eyanson: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
• Joe Vogatsky: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 K
• Reidis Sena: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 5 K
• Franklin Arias: 2-for-4, RBI
• Ahbram Liendo: 1-for-2, R, RBI, BB, SB

High-A Greenville Drive

Season Record: 16-24

Greenville fell down early, but their eight-run eighth inning prevailed past the Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles) with a 9-4 victory.

The Keys jumped on Greenville in the first inning with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, making it 2-0 before the Drive even got going.

Jack Winnay crushes his third homer in three games with a solo bomb in the fourth, to cut it 2-1. That was the only run the Drive scored for a long time, while Frederick scored another run with a homer of their own in the sixth, making it 3-1.  

Down 3-1 in the eighth, Greenville put together a monster inning. With one out, Justin Gonzales’ single set the table, Henry Godbout drew a walk to put two runners aboard, Yoeilin Cespedes followed and lined an RBI single to make it 3-2. Gerardo Rodriguez ripped a single as well to tie it. Winnay smoked a two-run single, earning his second hit of the game, putting Greenville ahead 5-3. Isaiah Jackson crushed a two-run homer to blow it open at 7-3. That was where the Keys changed pitchers and got and immediately got their second out of the inning. Greenville was not done, however. Ronny Hernandez doubled another run in, as the lineup flipped over, Gonzales capped it off with one more RBI single, making it a very comfortable 9-3 lead for the Drive. 

Frederick scored one more run in the bottom half of the eighth to shorten the deficit, but it was not enough to make it a 9-4 final. 

Ben Hansen was excellent in his 4 ⅓ innings of relief, striking out nine batters while only giving up three hits and one earned run.

Key Performances:

• Ben Hansen: 4 ⅓, 3 H, 1 ER, 9 K
• Justin Gonzales: 2-for-4, R, RBI, BB
• Jack Winnay: 2-for-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
• Isaiah Jackson: 2-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBI

Single-A Salem RidgeYaks

Season Record: 17-23

The Salem RidgeYaks suffered an embarrassing 16-2 blowout defeat to the Hill City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians).

On the bright side of the tough defeat, 19-year-old Enddy Azocar has been on an insane tear while waiting on the promotion to Greenville, getting four hits in this matchup. 

During Azocar’s five game hitting streak, he has collected back-to-back four hit games and four multi-hit games. In 22 at-bats in that stretch, Azocar has an outstanding .591 batting average, hitting one home run, five RBIs, two walks, and five strikeouts. 

The RidgeYaks combined for six hits, four coming from Azocar and two from Starlyn Nunez. The only runs Salem scored came in the ninth inning when Ilan Fernandez grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to bring in a run, and Azocar knocked his fourth hit of the game with an RBI double to make it a 16-2 game.

Interested in learning more about the Boston Red Sox's top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!