Worcester: L, 4-1 (BOX SCORE)
The WooSox fell to the IronPigs (PhilliesAAA) in more of a game of circumstance than anything. For every good thing that happened, there was a counter. The team only walked once, but they only struck out six times. John Holobetz struck out seven and pitched into the sixth, having only allowed a run via a home run, but Seth Martinez got taken yard three times. Of course, there was also the issue of going 1-2-3 six times in the game including when it mattered most in the ninth. In a winnable game,
5 hits, only one of those being an extra-base hit (by your 8-hole hitter, no less) usually doesn’t cut it.
Portland: W, 8-4 (BOX SCORE)
In a real full-team win, the Sea Dogs had three home runs, all within the first five innings to put them up big, including Brooks Brannon capping a 7-run second. Henry Godbout continues his fantastic late summer at the plate taking Binghamton (Mets AA) for two hits. Despite the DH who you may or may not recognize. Willson Contreras is getting some at-bats in rehab to ensure that nagging hamstring isn’t going to be too much of an issue during the playoff run. It didn’t seem to bother him Friday as he went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs. Contreras will start at first for the Sea Dogs this afternoon and it’s at least plausible we see him in Boston to end this Royals series Sunday.
Contreras wasn’t the only one rehabbing, though; along with Yordanny Monegro coming back from that lengthy Tommy John back in 2025, Tanner Houck is also searching to maybe get some innings in in 2026 after all (let me be clear… as the end of his rehab would be after the playoffs begin, I’m all for the 2024 All-Star pacing himself as slow as possible and coming back in 2027.) The 30-year-old struck four out allowing just one hit in three innings (though, that hit did score a runner he walked) and getting this game to a place where Max Carlson and Cooper Adams could slam the door. Houck threw 48 pitches in relatively low leverage, which actually may seem like a little bit of a high pitch count in a second appearance after a major surgery, but he dug in deep and got that ninth out. It’s really nice to see Houck on the mound again, and his Friday night certainly went a lot better than his Tuesday night did.
