Worcester: W, 8-5 (BOX SCORE)
The excitement about the line-up in Worcester’s series opener against the Yankees’ Triple-A squad could not be contained as the upper third of the WooSox batting order read as follows: IKF, Roman Anthony, Trevor Story. That’s not even counting a guy who’d be a starter on a lot of other big league teams, Romy Gonzalez, and a guy who may be starting games for a long, long time up in Fenway in Franklin Arias (and a guy who, fingers crossed, gets his act back together so he may end up in some Major League
line-ups in Kristian Campbell.) The timing is, of course, also important: we’re a week away from September call-ups and there’s reason to believe that one or both these call-ups are going to be guys on that aforementioned list of names completing their rehab to assist in the Red Sox’s mad dash towards October and all that comes with it.
The team was up for the task of scoring runs, but not until very late did a ball leave the park, and it was none other than Roman Anthony who hit a two-run shot; he had also gotten another RBI knock earlier in the contest. Arias would drive in 2, Story 1; Campbell and catcher Nate Baez each boasted one. Worcester’s beneficiary of such a mystical lineup had himself a fantastic night through five innings, allowing just one hit (a home run) all while striking out eight. The WooSox did let the game get to within the peramaters of a save opportunity for Hobie Harris, but the end result was never really in question.
Portland: L, 8-7 (BOX SCORE)
The Sea Dogs allowed runs all night, but kept it close with six runs across the fifth and sixth innings. The comeback Portland mounted in Richmond (Giants AA) all started with another name we’ve been hearing a lot about lately, as Justin Gonzales hit a two-run bomb in the fifth to score himself and Miguel Bleis. The man behind him, Johanfran Garcia, also had a night to write home about, getting three hits of his own, but those behind him couldn’t drive him in as the team as a whole stranded ten. This would come back to haunt Portland as Richmond squandered just three runners.
Greenville: W, 6-5 (BOX SCORE)
How about them Tar Heels!? The UNC (that’s North Carolina, of course, not the recently memed term for uncle) duo again were the cause for celebration in Greenville, as the Drive pulled off an incredible upset against Rome (BravesHigh-A) in which they went into the bottom of the 9th with an 11 percent chance of a win and stormed back. Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull would cap a three-run inning off with each of their second hits of the game. None of this would have been possible without Brady Tygart shoving through six in relief, striking out nine; this is the second consecutive outing Tygart has struck out at least eight.
Salem: L, 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
The RidgeYaks would get on the board early with Josue Brito’s first home run in A-ball. They would then fail to score for the remainder of the game and allow runs in the final three offensive innings Fayetteville (AstrosA) would have. Salem would go hitless with runners in scoring position and manage just five hits on the night.
