Worcester Red Sox 7, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 1
The Woo Sox went ahead 3-0 in the first inning, with some very familiar names involved. Roman Anthony and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each singled, Trevor Story hit a sacrifice fly before Nate Eaton and Kristian Campbell hit consecutive RBI doubles. They added four more in the sixth, thanks to an RBI single from Nathan Hickey, and RBI doubles from Tsung-Che Cheng and Anthony.
Anthony finished the day 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Kiner-Falefa was 2-for-4 with a run. Story was 1-for-3 with a sac fly.
Blake
Wehunt got the start on the mound and got his second win at Worcester, allowing one run and struck out four RailRiders (NYY). Osvaldo Berrios and Seth Martinez each threw two shutout innings to finish the game, Berrios striking out four, and Martinez five.
Blake Wehunt is listed as Friday’s starter on milb.com at the moment, which would be diabolical after starting Thursday’s game, but you just can’t put a price on the International League East Second Half title. The game is at 6:05.
Portland Sea Dogs 8, Richmond Flying Squirrels 2
The Sea Dogs broke a tie game open with a five-run fifth inning on Thursday against the Flying Squirrels (SF). First Brooks Brannon doubled in two runs, part of a two-hit day. Then Ahbram Liendo, who had two hits of his own, blasted his seventh home run of the season.
Henry Godbout finished things off with a two-run tank (4) of his own in the eighth inning, also adding two stolen bases on the night. Justin Gonzales had a big game as well, with two singles, two walks, and three RBI.
The Sea Dogs went with a bullpen game, with Caleb Bolden getting credit with a win in relief (two innings), while Joe Vogatsky got the bulk role, pitching four shutout innings and striking out three.
Devin Futrell (1-0, 4.50) takes the hill on Friday at 7:05.
Greenville Drive 7, Rome Emperors 1
Dylan Brown was fantastic again for Greenville on Thursday against the Emperors (ATL). He gave up one run on two hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out five. Last year’s eighth-round pick was coming off back-to-back outings of three shutout innings but was given a longer leash in this one. Between Low and High-A this season, Brown is 6-8 with a 3.38 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 101 1/3 innings (32.1 K%).
At the plate, Isaiah Jackson, who came over in the Vaughn Grissom trade with the Angels, has had a very underrated season. He blasted his 20th home run of the season on a 3-0 pitch to put the Drive ahead 2-0 in the first inning.
Nazzan Zanatello added his fourth home run of the season in the second inning. Jake Schaffner was 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Shea Sprague (3-4, 7.58) gets the ball for the Drive on Friday at 6:45.
Salem RidgeYaks at Fayetteville Woodpeckers – Postponed
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, beginning at 2:00. Leighton Finley (6-5, 5.00) will start for Salem on Friday at 7:05.
