Red Sox Minor League Report: Brooks Brannon’s Tape-Measure Blast Helps End Portland’s Skid

Sunday was an eventful day down on the farm for the Boston Red Sox. Let's take a look at all that happened.

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Series vs. Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 5-1

Season Record: 32-28

Excellent relief efforts helped Worcester win their fourth straight game by a score of 5-3. 

Michael Sansone spun one of his best starts all season on Sunday. He went five innings and allowed four hits and two runs, the lowest number of runs he’s allowed in a start since April 19. Additionally, Sansone K’d five batters, his highest mark in over a month. Osvaldo Berrios took the sixth inning, allowing two walks but escaped unscathed. Seth Martinez pitched the seventh inning, allowing one run before turning the ball over to Kyle Keller. Keller allowed one hit in the eighth before Wyatt Olds closed the game in the ninth. Olds allowed a walk but struck out the other three batters he faced as he sealed Worcester’s fifth win in six days. 

Matt Lloyd led the WooSox offense with two RBIs while Braiden Ward tallied two hits. Worcester struck quickly as Nate Eaton singled with men on the corners. Ward scored as the WooSox took an early lead. Matt Lloyd extended the lead to three with a two-RBI single later in the first, scoring Eaton and Vinny Capra. Capra didn’t wait long before adding an RBI of his own, scoring Tyler McDonough on a sac fly in the second. Ward added the final run of Worcester’s afternoon in the fourth with a double to right field, scoring Tsung-Che Cheng. From there the bullpen took care of business as they locked down the victory. 

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Series vs. Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies): 3-3

Season Record: 29-27

Portland snapped their three-game skid with a 3-1 win behind a monster home run from Brooks Brannon.

Gage Ziehl threw an excellent game and earned the win, allowing just one run over a six inning start. He let up five hits and one walk, but punched out a season-best eight batters. Max Carlson threw two superb innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three more batters. Reidis Sena earned his fifth save of the year as he shutout Hartford in the ninth. He allowed one hit and one walk as he lowered his ERA to 3.72. 

Before Brannon’s blast, Portland’s offense found life in Ronald Rosario and Ahbram Liendo. Rosario hit his third homer of the year in the fourth, tying the game at one run apiece. In the fifth, Ahbram Liendo drove in his tenth RBI in the past three games. He scored Nelly Taylor on a slow grounder to third. In the eighth, Brannon put an exclamation point on the day. He swung on and absolutely crushed a low pitch to the fences. The ball rocketed off his bat, clocking in at 115 MPH and travelling an astonishing 464ft. Brannon wasn’t done with his highlight reel day, however. In the ninth, Franklin Arias beat out a ground ball headed for the outfield, slinging it over to Brannon at first and making the play. 

High-A Greenville Drive

Series @ Rome Emperors (Atlanta Braves): 2-3

Season Record: 22-32

Greenville’s series finale was cancelled due to rain. 

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Series @ Wilson War Birds (Milwaukee Brewers): 1-5

Season Record: 24-33

Salem fell for the fifth time in six days behind a struggling pitching staff. 

Cole Tolbert started Sunday’s contest, but didn’t last long. The 23-year-old let up four runs (one unearned) on four hits and two walks over just an inning and ⅓. Yermain Ruiz pitched the next three and ⅔ innings and got the loss for his efforts. He let up two more runs (one unearned) on three hits. He did strike out five, however, as his ERA rose to just 2.45 over six appearances. Devin Gartrell entered for the sixth inning and promptly allowed three more runs to cross home. Wuilliams Rodriguez was the final RidgeYak to pitch as he closed the loss. He allowed two more runs as he punched out three.

Despite the loss, Salem fought hard. The RidgeYaks put up seven RBIs on nine hits as they drew a collective five walks. Kleyver Salazar led the way with four RBIs as Avinson Pinto contributed three of his own. It didn't take long for Salem to score. In the first, Andrews Opata scored on a passed ball. Later, Salazar crossed home on a Pinto ground out. Skylar King added another run as he scored on a wild pitch. Pinto added his second RBI with his third homer of the season, tying the game at 4-4. Pinto then tripled in the fifth, tying Salazar as he tied the game once again. Down by six runs in the eighth, Salazar clobbered a grand slam to left center to put the RidgeYaks within reach. Ultimately, Salem fell just short as they lost yet again.

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