Worcester: PPD, Rain, Make-Up Today
I peer at my voodoo doll that has allowed there to be at least one rainout every week on a Wednesday since June. The seams are tattered and I assure it to last just three more weeks. Bob Osgood’s onto us. You mustn’t break now.
In all seriousness, Chad Tracy has some decisions to make for this double-header. Wednesday’s expected starter was Richard Fitts. Fitts is now taking Isaiah Campbell’s place in the Red Sox bullpen against the team that traded him to Boston at Yankee Stadium. It’s also funny knowing that Richard Fitts has Mookie Betts trade lineage, as well, but that’s another story. Let’s get into the games that actually happened Wednesday!
Portland: L, 1-4 (BOX SCORE)
Portland’s lack of power at the plate again plagued them against the Ponies (I feel like Daffy Duck saying that, also, Mets AA). They certainly had a fantastic start by John Holobetz, who went seven innings giving up just one run via a homer, followed by a not-so-good outing by Zach Bryant. But, the Sea Dogs were still in this one until the bitter end; they just couldn’t plate a run until the ninth inning, when Ronaldo Hernandez hit the team’s only extra-base hit of the night. Going into that frame, though, they had just three hits, and they matched that effort in the ninth, but it wasn’t close to enough.
By the way, you may remember John Holobetz as part of the Quinn Priester trade – or the guy I’ve been mistakenly calling Joe for about three months now. He went 4-2 with 62 strikeouts and a 3.43 ERA in 63 innings pitched in Greenville prior to his promotion. He was the Brewers’ fifth round draft pick in 2024 after dealing at Old Dominion.
Greenville: W, 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
This game was tied at one entering the eighth, signifying a great night on the mound against Hub City (Rangers High-A) from recently promoted Devin Futrell as well as Adam Smith and Danny Kirwin, but the Drive ALSO only three hits heading into crunch time. But, crunch they did, as Nelly Taylor doubled and drove in a run on a play that had a .352 WPA for Greenville. The Drive didn’t look back, getting an insurance run off an Antonio Anderson double even with Smith allowing one run in his third inning of work. The win, by the way, continues a five-game winning streak on Wednesdays, which must be akin to seeing one of these four teams had a rain-out before a day off of Minor Lines. Kidding, Bob!
Salem: W, 4-2 (BOX SCORE)
Twelve hits off the Mudcats (Brewers A) for Salem on Wednesday, with nine men stranded. That’s okay, they didn’t need most of those runs, anyway, since Carolina stranded thirteen in a game that must have felt like Tuesday’s Red Sox game. In the late going, Salem right fielder Skyler King, the Red Sox’s 15th round draft pick from a few weeks ago, had a rare feat: two triples in one game, including one that engineered a comeback for the team, and Justin Gonzales, the lead off man, had three hits. Also worth noting keeping the Mudcats at bay may not have been possible without Brady Tygart’s six strikeouts in less than four innings.
Have a fantastic Thursday – chat on Saturday!
