Worcester: L, 1-10 (BOX SCORE)
It’s notable that Seth Martinez, who struggled out of the gate, was not meant to be the starter in this game. That slot belonged to Jake Bennett, who was scratched earlier in the day. It’s also notable that Toronto is just a three hour ride through the New York State Thruway (our version of the Pike you all know) and Ontario Highway 403 away from Rochester, where the Nationals AAA squad and the WooSox are faring off all week. The big lefty has been preserved as far as innings go this season, but
still throws hard and has been unhittable, or, at least, unable to be scored upon.
But, Bennett didn’t play Tuesday, and a bunch of other WooSox did. Though, the bats were really stagnant. The team relied on extra base hits by just Kristian Campbell and Mickey Gasper, and neither scored; that honor was fittingly scored by a sacrifice grounder by Anthony Seigler to score leadoff hitter Nick Sogard, which doesn’t quite sound right. Kristian Campbell’s OPS has been climbing to a respectable level, but it’s easy to highlight him when the rest of the Worcester lineup lacks the punch. Conversely, the Red Wings had no problem scoring on the WooSox, as, in addition to Martinez’s rough start, Noah Song got hit around for six runs in seven outs.
Portland: L, 1-2 (BOX SCORE)
Gage Ziehl shouldn’t have taken the loss going seven innings and allowing just two runs on five hits without walking any Patriots (Yankees AA), but the lackluster Portland bats caused the loss here. Both runs scored were off of home runs, and when you allow two home runs, it makes it tough when you can only muster one run. That’s math! If you’re on Franklin Arias home run watch, he has now reached his longest drought (two games) since he hit his first home run of the season, but he did have the Sea Dogs’ only RBI of the night. It didn’t help, though, that every starter in the lineup contributed to Portland’s 14 strikeouts.
Greenville: W, 12-6 (BOX SCORE)
It looked as though this game would be much different for the Drive in Hub City, aka Spartanburg (Rangers High-A) before Greenville exploded for 7 runs in the bottom of the 8 after allowing 4 runs in the top of the frame. The Drive treated that eighth inning like it was batting practice, teeing off for four home runs and quickly turning a close game into a blowout and allowed reliever Calvin Bickerstaff, who allowed the headache in the first place, to do a type of slamming the door that I’d envision would include hitting the door on your toe and jumping up and down before slamming it a second time.
Salem: : W, 6-0 (BOX SCORE)
Pitching was the real differene maker in this game: the Warbirds (Brewers A) managed just six runners on the night off of Myles Patton and Jacob Mayers, each of whom have looked good in their last couple of appearances. Meanwhile, no one knew it yet, but this game was over by the third batter of the game all the way in the top of hte first as the RidgeYaks’ catcher Luke Heyman hit a two-run shot to put Salem up for good.
