Red Sox Minor League Weekend Recap: Franklin Arias Clubs Two Home Runs In Portland Victory

Boston Red Sox Minor League Recap (May 22)

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Series vs. Rochester Red Wings (Washington Nationals): 0-4

Season Record: 23-24

After starting the season hot, the WooSox fell below .500 as they lost their fourth straight.

It was a woeful day on the mound for the entirety of Worcester’s pitching staff. Jack Anderson started the game and let up six runs off nine hits over just three innings. Seth Martinez took over in the fourth and was only marginally better. He allowed three more runs and walked two despite collecting four strikeouts over two and ⅔ innings. Wyatt Olds took the next inning and ⅓, putting together the best outing of the day. He allowed just one baserunner via a hit, and struck out four more. However, Tommy Kahnle still took over in the eighth despite Olds’ dominance. Kahnle was good, however, allowing three baserunners as he prevented any further damage. To close out the game, Worcester brought in catcher Nathan Hickey, who let up three more runs as Rochester put the game way out of reach.

Just like on the mound, Worcester was downright miserable at the plate. The WooSox recorded just three hits and drew six walks. The lone run came on a Braiden Ward single that drove in Max Ferguson in the fifth inning. Worcester never really had a chance to come back as they fell for the seventh time in their last eight contests.

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Series vs. Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies): 4-0

Season Record: 21-21

Portland won 2-1 as they fought back to .500. John Holobetz has had a mixed bag of recent outings, but he settled in on Friday and pitched six scoreless innings.  He lowered his ERA to 4.06 as he struck out six and allowed five hits, recovering from a turbulent start to the month. Caleb Bolden earned a hold for his two innings of relief work. He allowed one run and two hits, but struck out four. To complete the solid day on the bump for Portland, Reidis Sena allowed a walk in his one-inning appearance. He earned the save for his efforts, striking out two of the four batters he faced.

Franklin Arias led the way for Portland at the plate with perhaps his best hitting performance so far this season. He led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run, his ninth of the year. Then, in the fifth inning, he hit his second home run of the night and tenth on the year. He made up the entirety of the Sea Dogs offense, collecting three hits as he bumped his average to .341. Overall, Portland was 0-for-7 with RISP and left eight runners on base. In the end, however, it didn’t matter as they eked out the win behind Arias’s outstanding game. 

High-A Greenville Drive

Series @ Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles): 1-1

Season Record: 16-25

Friday’s doubleheader was postponed due to inclement weather. It was the second forced cancellation in a row and makeup information has not yet been provided. 

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Series @ Hill City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians): 2-2

Season Record: 19-24

Following the postponement of Thursday’s game, Salem and Hill City split a doubleheader on Friday. 

Jason Gilman started the first game of the afternoon for Salem and turned in four and ⅔ innings of great work. He allowed two hits and one unearned run as he stalled the Howlers’ offense. He punched out five batters and walked two. Jay Allmer took the final two and ⅓ innings of the seven inning contest in his first appearance since being demoted from High-A Greenville. He spun an excellent outing, allowing a hit and a walk but striking out three and slamming the door on any sort of comeback effort. 

It was a slow game for Salem at the plate. The RidgeYaks reached base only eight times and went 1-for-6 with RISP. However, they were able to prevail behind the efforts of Givian Sirvania who made his first start since being activated from the FCL Red Sox.  He helped Salem take the lead early with a two-RBI double in the second inning. In the seventh inning, with a one-run edge, Avinson Pinto put the game away with his second homer of the season. 

In the second game of the day, Jose Bello put together an excellent start of his own. He lowered his season ERA to 2.82, allowing three hits and one unearned run through five and ⅔ innings. He K’d three and allowed one walk. Nicolas De La Cruz started the seventh inning with the game tied 1-1. Despite sitting down five on strikes, he allowed five walks as he struggled with command. In the eighth, Hill City walked off Salem with a bases loaded single to split the doubleheader. 

It was an even slower second game for Salem at the dish. They recorded just seven baserunners this time around and went an abysmal 0-for-8 with RISP. The lone run game on a Skylar King groundout with men on the corners and no outs. Kleyver Salazar and Stanley Tucker each recorded two hits, but the rest of the team was silent in the hits column.

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