Red Sox Minor League Report: Portland Wins In Extras Behind Stellar Sandoval, Eyanson Performances

There’s nothing more American than baseball on the Fourth of July. Let’s see how the Red Sox affiliate teams fared on the nation’s birthday.

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Series @ Syracuse Mets (New York Mets): 3-2

Season Record: 41-42

Worcester fell by one run for the second consecutive night despite a late offensive surge. 

Seth Martinez started the ballgame for Worcester and turned in two frames of perfect work. He struck out two before being pulled. Noah Song got the ball next, but his appearance was less than ideal as he earned the loss. Over just 1⅓ innings, Song allowed five runs on five hits as Syracuse jumped out to an early lead. Tyler Samaniego was called in to finish off the fourth inning, and stayed in for the fight. Samaniego allowed one baserunner via a walk, but struck out two before turning the ball over to Angel Bastardo. Bastardo allowed one more run, but held it down through two innings of work. Finally, Osvaldo Berrios was called upon to close out the contest. He did just that, striking out the side and putting Worcester in a comeback position.  

Unfortunately for Berrios, Worcester’s offense fell just short for the second straight night. The WooSox kept it close with five runs on five hits, most of which came in the late stages of the game. Worcester was held scoreless until the eighth inning, when Mikey Romero put the WooSox on the board with an RBI single, scoring Braiden Ward and Vinny Capra. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Brett Harris grounded out to short but Romero and Jason Delay scored on a throwing error as the WooSox crept within two. With the game in reach in the ninth, Mickey Gasper singled on a ground ball to right, driving in Max Ferguson and advancing Ward to third. However, with the tying run just 90 feet away, the WooSox couldn’t get the job done as they fell by a narrow margin.

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Series vs. Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates): 3-2

Season Record: 42-37

Portland walked off Altoona in extras behind five excellent innings each from Patrick Sandoval and Anthony Eyanson. 

Sandoval made what was his reported final rehab start in a lengthy two-year recovery from UCL surgery. Sandoval was excellent through a five inning appearance, allowing a hit and a walk as he sent five batters packing on strikes. In the sixth, Portland made an unusual call to the bullpen as starter Anthony Eyanson took the mound in a relief role. Eyanson won his third game of the season for his outing as he delivered a great five innings. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk, but gave the offense enough leeway to pull off the win. Eyanson matched Sandoval’s strikeout total with seven of his own as he delivered another superb performance. 

Despite tallying only three runs, the Sea Dogs did just enough to win Saturday’s contest. Ahbram Liendo provided most of the offense with his two RBIs, as Franklin Arias opened the scoring in the first. Arias skied a fly ball to right field, driving in Raudelis Martinez on a sac fly. After Eyanson conceded two runs in the eighth, Liendo tied the game. He looped a check swing hit just over the glove of the second baseman, reaching first safely as Martinez was thrown out at second. Liendo played the hero for a second time just two innings later. With two runners in scoring position, Liendo smoked a hit off of the third baseman's glove as Miguel Bleis raced home. Liendo was mobbed by his teammates as the crowd celebrated the walk-off win. 

High-A Greenville Drive

Series @ Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox): 1-4

Season Record: 31-46

Greenville snapped an eight-game losing streak, winning in easy fashion 12-3.

Marcus Philips got the start for Greenville on Saturday, turning in four and ⅓ innings of solid work. Philips allowed one run on four hits as he struck out three batters. One thing that stood out from Philip's performance on Saturday was his exceptional control. He didn't issue a walk across his outing. Shea Sprague got the nod next, making a one and ⅓ inning relief appearance. He allowed two runs to cross home on two hits as he allowed two walks. Sprague struck out one and got the  win for his middle-innings outing. Joe Vogatsky took the final three and ⅓ frames in nearly perfect fashion. Vogatsky allowed just one baserunner via a walk as he struck out four batters and sealed the long-sought win for the Drive.

Greenville's offense was exceptional on Saturday as they totaled 12 runs on as many hits. Enddy Azocar lived up to his top prospect status as he led the way with three RBIs on Saturday afternoon. Azocar got the scoring started in the third inning with a line drive single to left field. Stanley Tucker crossed home as ht eDrive captured an early lead. In the fifth, Antonio Anderson added to the lead as he scored Yophery Rodriguez on a double. With Anderson at second, Azocar hit his third home run of the season to tack on two more runs. Not to be outdone, Yoeilin Cespedes stood at the plate next, crushing his 13th homer of the season as the two prospects went back-to--back. But the Drive weren't done yet. Luke Heyman matched Azocar and Cespedes with a homer of his own as the Drive went back-to-back-to-back in an explosive five-run inning. Cespedes stepped up to the plate in the sixth inning with Azocar aboard. Cespedes took the pitcher deep for his second homer of the night, giving the Drive a six-run lead. One inning later, with runners at the corners, Ronny Hernandez grounded out to first as Isaiah Jackson raced home. In the eighth, Azocar was driven in once more as Jackson hit a triple to deep centerfield. To put a bow on a tremendous afternoon, Mason White crushed a two-run homer to put the game firmly out of reach. 

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Series @ Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves) : 3-2

Season Record: 32-47

The RidgeYaks won behind dominant pitching across the staff, prevailing 1-0. 

Jason Gilman got the nod on Saturday evening, twirling an astounding performance. Over six frames, Gilman limited the GreenJackets offense to just two hits and two walks as he struck out nine of the 22 batters he faced. Following Gilman’s excellent outing, Jay Allmer kept the ball rolling with an inning of shutout relief. Despite walking three, Allmer was able to limit the damage before Harry Blum took the final two innings. Blum was nearly perfect, allowing just two walks in two frames as he struck out two and sealed the close victory for Salem. 

Salem’s offense was quiet on Saturday, recording just five hits and four walks. However, it was just enough to eke out the victory as Ilan Fernandez was responsible for the lone, game-winning run. The run came early, as Anderson Fermin stood at first in the third inning. Fernandez hooked a double down the line in center field as Fermin hustled around the bases and beat the tag at home. It proved to be critical for the RidgeYaks, however, as they were able to go home satisfied for the third straight contest.

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