Red Sox Minor League Report: Greenville’s Losing Streak Reaches Eight

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

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Series @ Syracuse Mets (New York Mets): 3-1

Season Record: 40-41

Worcester fell 8-7 in a close game amid a poor day from the WooSox bullpen. 

Jack Anderson impressed through five shutout frames. Anderson allowed three hits and walked two, but struck out three before his night came to a close following the fifth inning. Zack Kelly followed Anderson and struggled. Kelly didn’t record an out, instead conceding five runs on three hits. Caleb Bolden replaced Kelly, getting thrust into a high-stakes situation in his first appearance in Triple-A. Bolden spent three years in Double-A before getting the long-awaited call-up on Thursday. Bolden pitched through two complete frames, striking out three but allowing Syracuse to tack on three more runs (one unearned) on two hits. In Bolden’s first appearance with Worcester, he was dealt the loss. Sam McWilliams, another Worcester newcomer, took over in the eighth inning and closed the loss for the WooSox. He allowed two walks and struck out one in his first appearance. McWilliams was signed to a minor league deal on July 2 following a stint in Mexico. 

Worcester went an impressive 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position on Friday, but came up just short. Mikey Romero led the way with three RBIs as Kristian Campbell tallied three hits. Tyler McDonough got the scoring started for Worcester in the third inning, doubling on a fly ball to right field and driving in Campbell. Later in the inning, newly acquired infielder Brett Harris scored Nathan Hickey on a groundball back to the pitcher. With a two-run advantage in the fourth, Campbell smacked a line drive to center, good for an RBI single as Allan Castro crossed home. One inning later, Romero drove in Braiden Ward on a line drive single to left, adding to the lead. Romero smacked another RBI single in the seventh, driving in McDonough and Ward and tying the ballgame. Down by two in the ninth, Mickey Gasper attempted to start a comeback, singling to center and driving in Vinny Capra. However, it was too little too late as Worcester fell by one run. 

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Series vs. Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates): 2-2

Season Record: 41-37

The Sea Dogs went home victorious 9-3, behind another strong start from John Holobetz.

Holobetz has recorded six strikeouts in each of his last three starts but on Friday he one-upped himself, punching out seven batters. Holobetz lasted 5⅓ innings, allowing two runs on four hits and walking just one batter as he earned the win. Reidis Sena took over in the sixth inning and lasted through the eighth. Over the 2⅔ innings, Sena allowed one run on four hits and sent three batters down on strikes. Eduardo Rivera allowed one hit as he shut the door on Altoona’s offense and sealed the Friday night victory for Portland. 

Brooks Brannon turned in a three-hit night, contributing two RBIs in the win. Johanfran Garcia and Ronald Rosario also added two RBIs as the trio helped the Sea Dogs to a win. With the bases loaded in the third, Garcia turned on a ball high in the zone and hit it back to the wall in right center. Franklin Arias and Miguel Bleis scored as Garcia opened the scoring. Portland wasn’t finished as later in the third, Rosario drove in Brannon and Garcia on a ground ball single to center as Portland took an early four-run lead. In the fifth, Ahbram Liendo hit a single to left field, driving in Jack Winnay and sending Caden Rose to third. Two batters later, Rose took advantage of a wild pitch and crossed home. In the seventh, the Sea Dogs scored again on a wild pitch as Matt Frazier scored. To add to the lead later in the inning, Brooks Brannon scored Arias and Rose on a ground-rule double as Portland put the game firmly out of reach. 

High-A Greenville Drive

Series @ Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox): 0-3

Season Record: 30-46

Greenville lost their eighth straight game 7-1 as its struggles on both sides of the ball continued.

Despite Winston-Salem tallying seven runs, the Drive’s pitching staff only allowed one earned run on Friday night. Alex Bouchard took the bump to start the game and allowed the only earned run for the staff. Bouchard was pulled in the third, finishing with two walks, two strikeouts, one run, and no hits, earning the loss. The inherited runner scored on a triple allowed by Tyler Davis. Davis took the 2⅔ innings following Bouchard’s exit. He allowed two hits but struck out four before Danny Kirwin took over. Kirwin allowed three unearned runs as he walked four batters and allowed one hit. He struck out four but was replaced by Steven Brooks after just 1⅓ innings. Brooks took the next inning, allowing three more unearned runs on three hits as Greenville truly fell apart. Catcher Hudson White took the eighth and final frame, allowing two walks but staving off any further offense from the Dash. 

It was an embarrassing night for the Drive at the dish as they only totaled three hits. They drew six walks, but they were far from effective as they only scored one run. The Drive’s lone run came in the top of the eighth, facing a seven-run deficit. With the bases loaded, Isaiah Jackson drew a walk and drove in Antonio Anderson. While the Drive avoided being shut out, there was nothing more to write home about regarding Friday’s poor performance. 

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Series @ Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) : 2-2

Season Record: 31-47

The RidgeYaks rode early offense and solid pitching to a 7-4 win. 

Christian Foutch got the start on Friday night for Salem and turned in an excellent 4⅔ inning performance. Foutch allowed one run on three hits and one walk, but struck out eight. It was the most strikeouts he’s recorded in a game since May 1 as Foutch lowered his ERA to 6.18. Yermain Ruiz split Friday’s game with Foutch, entering in the fifth and closing the game. Ruiz allowed three runs on five hits as he struck out four batters as he staved off Augusta’s offense to give Salem the win. After allowing two runs in the eighth, Ruiz pitched a clean ninth inning to seal the win for Salem. 

The RidgeYaks totaled ten hits and seven runs at the plate, going a respectable 2-for-8 with RISP. D’Angelo Ortiz led the way with three RBIs, and Andrews Opata and Louis Andujar followed suit with two RBIs apiece. Opata struck early, going yard in the first inning and driving in Starlyn Nunez as Salem established a quick lead. With runners on second and third in the fourth inning, Ortiz hooked a ball past third base and into the corner in left field. Andujar and Adonys Guzman scored easily as Salem’s lead rose to four runs. Ortiz added another RBI in the sixth, driving in Andujar once more on a sac fly. Andujar then joined the party, tacking on two more runs in the eighth as Salem took a commanding four-run lead. Guzman and Franklin Primera scored as Andujar advanced to second on a fielding error. Andujar capped off a successful night for Salem as they left the ballpark victorious.

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!