Red Sox Minor League Report: Anthony Eyanson and Franklin Arias Impress, Leading Portland to Victory

Let's see what happened down on the Red Sox's farm on Saturday evening.

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Series vs. Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers): 0-5

Season Record: 36-40

Worcester’s losing streak hit five on Saturday as the WooSox fell 15-6 in a slugfest.

The WooSox, playing as the Worcester Kelley Squares, turned to Jack Anderson for Saturday’s start. Anderson struggled across four frames, letting up six runs on four hits. Anderson struck out three and walked two before being replaced by Tyler Samaniego. Samaniego stopped the bleeding temporarily, allowing just a walk and a hit while striking out two in one inning of relief. Tyler Uberstine came next and was rocked to the tune of six runs (three unearned) on five hits in just an inning of work. Eduardo Rivera took the mound next, turning in a solid two innings of work. He allowed one run on four hits before Juan Montero took the ninth frame. Montero allowed two more runs to cross home in the ninth inning of a disastrous day for the WooSox staff.

The WooSox offense held its own on Saturday, but it couldn’t  compete with Toledo’s onslaught. Max Ferguson and Kristian Campbell led the offense with two RBIs apiece. Andrew Knizner started the scoring with a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the first, driving in Braiden Ward and Vinny Capra and forcing Mikey Romero to third. Romero was driven home later in the inning on a Campbell sac fly. Just one inning later, Max Ferguson drove in Tyler McDonough on a two-run shot to right. The WooSox last run came far too late to do any damage as Romero rounded the bases on a solo home run, his sixth of the year.

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Series @ Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies): 3-2

Season Record: 38-35

TalkSox’s top two prospects took the field for Portland on Saturday as Franklin Arias returned to the lineup and Anthony Eyanson took the mound. The pair put up two excellent outings, leading the Sea Dogs to a 5-2 victory.

Eyanson turned in yet another quality start, lasting 5⅔ innings. He allowed one run, his first run given up in the month of June. Eyanson only struck out two batters, his fewest mark all season. It was a successful start despite some minor struggles. Jedixson Paez took the next 2⅓ innings, allowing one more run on a solo homer and striking out three. Erik Rivera followed Paez, sealing Portland’s win with a two-strikeout save.

Portland had a great offensive showing on Saturday, tallying 11 hits and five runs. The Sea Dogs were especially effective with runners in scoring position, going 4-for-13. The scoring started late for Portland, with the first two runs coming in the eighth inning. Down one run, Franklin Arias cranked a two-run homer to right center with Nelly Taylor on second. It was Arias’s 15th homer of the season, leading the Red Sox affiliate teams. Miguel Bleis wanted in on the fun, homering after Arias as the pair went back-to-back. It was Bleis’s third homer in just two nights as he continued a hot month at the plate. With a two-run lead in the ninth, Ahbram Liendo put the ball in play with runners on the corners. Liendo reached on a fielder’s choice as Marvin Alcantara crossed home. With the bases loaded, Miguel Bleis stepped to the plate and singled to left field, scoring Caden Rose. Bleis put an exclamation mark on what was a successful day at the dish for Portland.

High-A Greenville Drive

Series vs. Asheville Tourists (Houston Astros): 2-3

Season Record: 30-41

Greenville fell 11-9 in an extra-innings heartbreaker.

Alex Bouchard took the mound to start the evening for Greenville. Bouchard limped through a 3⅔ inning start. He allowed five runs (one unearned) on eight hits before being replaced by Ben Hansen. Hansen undertook a bulk relief role, turning in 4⅓ innings of shutout ball. Danny Kirwin took the mound to start the ninth and escaped unscathed. However, in the tenth Kirwin was lit up, allowing six runs (one unearned) on five hits and three homers. 

Tyler Davis played damage control in the tenth, but it was too late to avoid the loss as the Drive fell apart late.

Akin to Portland, Greenville was effective at the dish on Saturday. Going a combined 4-for-11 with RISP and good for nine runs on 11 hits, Greenville’s offense was nearly enough. Luke Heyman continued to impress on Saturday, going 3-for-4 and driving in three runs. Heyman started the scoring for the Drive, scoring Enddy Azocar on a single in the second inning. Then in the fourth inning, Heyman drove a solo home run over the wall in center and cut the deficit to three. Heyman capped off his three-hit performance with another RBI single, this one coming in the fifth inning and scoring Antonio Anderson. Down by two runs in the sixth, Yophery Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch as Ronny Hernandez advanced to second. Hernandez was subsequently driven home on a home run from Anderson. It was Anderson’s third home run in as many days as he gave Greenville a one-run edge. Mason White added to the lead with an RBI single in the seventh, scoring Gerardo Rodriguez. With their backs against the wall in the bottom of the tenth, the Drive tried to mount a comeback effort. Isaiah Jackson scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to three. Finally, Rodriguez hit his twelfth homer of the season but it was too little too late as Greenville narrowly fell.

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Series vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs): 1-3

Season Record: 28-45

Salem held on to a three-run lead, prevailing 8-5 behind a good start from Christian Foutch. Foutch turned in three innings of no-hit ball, walking three and racking up five strikeouts. It was a much-needed rebound from a disastrous last start. Yermain Ruiz took the mound next, allowing three runs on six hits over the next three frames. Ruiz struck out another five before turning the ball over to Adam Bates. Bates let up two runs on four hits, but still earned the win. Like the two pitchers before him, Bates recorded five more strikeouts across two innings. Devin Gartrell took the ninth frame and struck out the side in a perfect inning, sealing the win for Salem. 

Despite a collective 11 strikeouts, the RidgeYaks were more than sufficient at the plate. Down by two runs in the fourth, Louis Andujar put Salem on the board with an RBI double, driving in Skylar King. King hit an RBI single of his own just an inning later, scoring Givian Sirvania and Andrews Opata to take a one-run lead. Down by two in the seventh, Andujar hit another RBI single, tying the game with two more RBIs. Opata and Avinson Pinto scored as Salem evened the game. Andujar then scored as Anderson Fermin reached on a throwing error, giving Salem the lead. D’Angelo Ortiz put the game out of reach with a two-out RBI single, scoring Fermin and Andruw Musett.

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