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: 40-41

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: 41-37

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): 0-4

Season Record: 30-46

Greenville pushed Winston-Salem to extras, but fell for the ninth consecutive game by a score of 5-4. 

Dylan Brown got the start on Saturday night for Greenville, turning in four frames of solid work. Brown walked four and allowed five hits as three runs crossed home plate. He struck out six of the 20 batters he faced across his outing before Joe Vogatsky got the call from the bullpen. Vogatsky allowed four hits, but staved off any runs from scoring. He struck out four as the Drive tied the game. Steven Brooks made his second appearance in as many days, but saw unfortunate results this time around. Over 1⅔ innings of work, Brooks finished with two runs allowed (one unearned) on three hits as he earned the loss. It wasn’t Brooks that allowed the walk-off hit, however. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth, Tyler Davis walked Kyle Lodise, allowing the winning run and losing the game for the drive. 

Luke Heyman totalled three hits on Saturday’s action, adding an RBI as well. The Drive went 2-for-7 with RISP, falling short in crucial moments. Yophery Rodriguez led the scoring off in the second inning, launching a line drive double to right field and driving in Mason White. Down by two runs in the sixth inning, Yoeilin Cespedes clobbered his 12th homer of the season to left field, bringing the Drive within one run. Later in the sixth, White stepped to the dish and singled on a ground ball to center, tying the game as Heyman scored. With the game tied in the tenth, it was Heyman’s turn in the spotlight. With Enddy Azocar at third, Heyman pulled a single through the infield. It was enough to drive Azocar home as the Drive jumped ahead. It was a short-lived lead, however, as the Drive relinquished the lead, and the game, in the bottom of the inning. 

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

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

Season Record: 31-47

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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