Payton Tolle looked commanding on the mound through five innings, allowing just one hit and striking out nine Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins AAA), and Justin Slaten rolled through his inning striking out two (though giving a run up, albeit one run.) The WooSox ended the seventh up 3-2 thanks to a Nick Sogard leadoff home run way back in the first and corresponding one-run innings in the second and third thanks to RBIs from Nathan Hickey and recently promoted second-baseman Max Ferguson, who’s making his presence felt already.

Then came the David Sandlin bullpen experience, where he couldn’t make it through an inning before giving up four runs. Craig: Sandlin shouldn’t come up to Boston this year, and in fact, should move back to the rotation in Worcester (and moving away from veteran presence JDL should be the corresponding move). Sandlin has not been good in the pen. I don’t think it’s a matter of leverage situations or him not having the stuff, it’s just that some guys get more comfortable starting a game, and Sandlin was rolling in the Portland rotation. Speaking of Portland…

Every batter save for Miguel Bleis came away with a knock against Binghamton (Mets AA) in this one, but it wasn’t enough. Jack Anderson pitched a pretty strong twelve outs in relief but they were low-leverage innings due to already being down 3-0. The Sea Dogs did get some late action through a triple from 2023 7th round pick Caden Rose at the bottom of the order, but as you can see, no one outside of Allan Castro and Ronaldo Hernandez has been quite hitting the cover off the ball this season.

Maximus Martin is making waves in Greenville already. On top of gaining two more hits to increase his batting average in his first week in High-A to .500, he drew a key walk in the 11th inning with one out to allow a bases-loaded wild pitch to score what would become the game winning run. Noah Dean, now a bullpen arm, would come in to slam the door in Hub City (Rangers High-A), but this wouldn’t have been possible without three innings of scoreless work from Isaac Stebens, who has been absolute nails this year for the Drive. Make the call to Portland!

Salem, Game 2: PPD, Rain, Make-Up Today

Dan Secatore, didn’t you know I have a voodoo doll of the weather for Friday night games, too? There was just one game of action here – less than that, actually. This game started on Thursday night. See here this crazy first inning strikeout from Yhoiker Fajardo.

When the game continued on Friday, Salem would hand it off to Jesus Travieso (seriously, professional ballplayers are born in 2007 now????) who struck eight Mudcats (Brewers A) out in four innings. All Salem needed was three hits including a home run from Gerardo Rodriguez (yet another catcher hitting dingers!) to win this one. It’s a great thing when you can win while only getting five baserunners on the night.

Have a great Saturday, and, as always, (expletive) the Yankees.