Worcester: L, 2-7 (BOX SCORE)
As has often been the case due to the fact that so many of their Opening Day rotation members are now pitching in Boston, the WooSox ran into some early trouble and it didn’t get any better as the night went on. Raymond Burgos gave up three early runs (though just one earned) to the Bison (Blue Jays AAA) and, though he steadied with three solid innings to finish his five frames, it didn’t get any better in relief. Meanwhile, the WooSox bats were pretty quiet throughout Tuesday’s contest, as the team managed just four hits, just one of those being an extra-base hit. It is also funny that Vinny Capra, one of MLB’s worst hitters in his time with the White Sox and Brewers, is raking in Triple-A, with an OPS over 1.000. I don’t believe this would translate in Boston and still believe Capra’s purpose as an MLB veteran and someone who is solid defensively is to mentor the guys in Triple-A, but the success is worth noting.
Portland: L, 6-7 (BOX SCORE)
In a contest that did not finish until after 10:30, the Red Sox fans in attendance in Hartford, CT against the Yard Goats (Rockies AA) were subjected to being walked off despite everything going Portland’s way to start. Hayden Mullins had yet another passable start, striking out eight. He did give up three runs in his five innings, but that’s ok because the Sea Dogs scored four in the first inning alone including two home runs from Johanfran Garcia and Marvin Alcantara. Unfortunately, though, Portland couldn’t slam the door, as they gave up two runs in the eighth and the eventual walk off home run in the ninth. And, ho hum, another two hits for Franklin Arias.
Greenville: L, 1-5 (BOX SCORE)
Greenville has still only won once in the month of May. That continued Tuesday against the Hot Rods (Rays High-A) as Kyson Witherspoon, who’s really been struggling since being drafted in the first round last year, had another tough start, giving up four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out just one. He didn’t make it out of the fifth, and he didn’t get the run support the team needed, either, as the Drive were sat down on strikes 11 times and had just one extra-base hit.
Salem: : L, 0-4 (BOX SCORE)
You know it’s going to be a tough day at the office when you have as many hits (3) as defensive errors. It’s also tough to win a baseball game when you don’t score any runs, no matter how good your pitching performs. Salem could not back up a pitching staff that allowed just two hits on Tuesday, as the Nationals took until the sixth to get on the board but held the RidgeYaks off all night. Not only were the RidgeYaks held off the board, they were also held off the basepaths; just two members of the lineup reached base at all, and the team did not get a ball four the entire night.
Have a productive Wednesday.