I’d like to formally revisit Monday morning, when the Red Sox announced they recalled Zack Kelly and Ali Sanchez from Triple-A. I don’t need to explain how much of a head-scratcher the latter is, because Connor Wong actually seems to be hitting lately even amidst a little Carlos Narvaez slump, and because Bob Osgood already wrote about it last month. But the Kelly promotion feels…. curious among a Worcester pitching staff of guys who have been much more effective, and we know from earlier in the year that he’s going to be hit around. Enter a Connelly Early start Tuesday that would have some (hi, it’s me, I’m some) questioning the formation of this pitching staff. Even if the possibility of promoting Early leads to there being too much youth on this team, it’s better to evaluate them rather than blow the bullpen up with fatigue in early September. Let’s get into it.
When I picture Connelly Early striking out ten Rail Riders (Yankees) in the opener of the WooSox’s penultimate home series of 2025, I picture the Michael Jordan “…and I took that personally” meme. There was not a starter in Scranton’s lineup left unscathed by strike three at the end of the night, and ten of those came from the 23-year-old lefty. Among news of Zack Kelly being called up and Kyle Harrison heading to Boston, Early had to have been feeling like chopped liver, so instead, he chopped up Scranton’s bats. Unfortunately, the outing only lasted six innings, and the bullpen did not hold it. Scranton came roaring back with a seven-run seventh off Jovani Moran and Bryan Mata, but even a loss couldn’t negate a three-hit night by Nick Sogard, Mikey Romero’s second home run in a week, and Kristian Campbell coming within inches of a cycle and missing it by, strangely enough, just a single.
Welcome to Portland, Franklin Arias! The Red Sox prospect’s first game in Double-A against Erie (Tigers AA) came with two strikeouts, but it’s fine, because he captured his first hit, a double. Add in the fact that the Sea Dogs’ two catchers, Ronald Rosario and Ronaldo Hernandez, combined for three home runs (Rosario had two), Dalton Rogers threw a solid five scoreless innings, and Noah Song powered through two challenging innings without giving up a run, it was the perfect foundation for the Sea Dogs to coast to a seven-run win.
This July’s compensatory second round draft pick, infielder Henry Godbout, was present in the leadoff spot in Winston-Salem (White Sox High-A) and continues to see the ball well. The bad news? His double was the only extra base hit for Greenville Tuesday night, and he was not able to score despite reaching second with just one out. Salem’s pitching looked awesome, starting with Brady Tygart, but unfortunately, the kiss of death unknowingly came when Tygart aloowed a solo shot in the second at-bat of the game. With such a low score, the game flew by in just two hours flat, but it could have been a lot worse that stagnant offense without the command of Tygart and Luis Cohen.
Salem: W, 8-5 (BOX SCORE) (Monday)
I’m the first one to tell people to temper their expectations a bit upon seeing another Ortiz family member in a Red Sox uniform. But seeing him get three hits and a stolen base is exciting, if even for a moment, isn’t it? Salem as a whole had no issues whatsoever getting some knocks off of the Woodpecker (Astros A) pitching staff; Jack Winnay and Enddy Azocar, batting back-to-back, enjoyed two hits a piece. Fayeteville allowed six stolen bases and seven walks, but Salem was able to hold them to 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. A comfortable Labor Day win even if it felt uncomfortable at times!