While it feels like the bullpen on the Major League roster has a pretty large disparity between the high-leverage guys and the stinkers, Justin Slaten had another lockdown inning against Jacksonville (Marlins AAA) on an afternoon where not many Jumbo Shrimp looked too great. This game had some tension in the late going as three straight pitchers allowed a run, but, luckily, the WooSox had gotten off to a 7-0 lead and got some balls batted into the stands from their infielders: namely, Kristian Campbell and Mikey Romero. WAIT, not so fast on calling Kristian Campbell an infielder…. he was playing center field. It makes sense, as the Password is now onto greener pastures, Nate Eaton is up as well, and guys like Karson Simas, Max Ferguson and Mikey Romero are still getting used to Triple-A pitching. But I don’t have to tell you the negative implications of this new millionaire playing a third position on the year after already struggling in 2025, nor should I have to tell you the plethora of existing bodies up in Boston in the outfield. Plus, for those accountants out there, none of the aforementioned guys have signed a long-term contract yet. But, for today, Campbell played clean ball and was one of three WooSox with multiple hits.
With their team depleted following a bunch of promotions to Worcester, the Sea Dogs haven’t put up many 10-spots on offense in the last few months. But Tyler Miller’s three hits (falling a double shy of the cycle) and Brooks Brannon’s grand slam, both late shots, aided this. Unfortunately, the Sea Dogs were already trailing the Rumble Ponies (Mets AA) after Blake Wehunt was shelled for four runs on six hits and two walks and subsequently pulled in the second inning. The Sea Dogs ended up giving up twelve runs and striking out the plate fourteen times, neither of which are great things.
Austin Ehrlicher left the game with an injury two pithes in, leading Liam Carroll to make do with multiple outings from long relievers including Adam Smith. No one looked particularly great, but, as in Portland, the Drive were able to almost offset Hub City (Rangers High-A) at the plate, but they stranded ten, struggling to bring many of their ten walks in, and had just one extra-base hit via a triple. The game went from 3-0 Greenville in the first to 6-3, Hub City three innings later, and the Spartanburgers never looked back.
Yoikher Fajardo of Cam Booser acquisition fame pitched just an inning on Wednesday before the game against the Mudcats (Brewers A) got rained out, leaving him open to go much longer in this game, and go long he did. Six innings, no walks, just two hits and eight strikeouts on the afternoon for the 19-year-old righty should have been enough to get him a decision W in this one, but Jose Bello of Rafael Devers acquisition recognition blew the nine-out save as a result of giving up three walks. But, he recovered and pitched a gutsy ninth… making the slippery defensive play of Carolina that much more detrimental to the game. The winning run for the Sox ended up coming via a botched pickoff attempt off the wheels of Nathanael Yuten.
