Red Sox Minor Lines: Bryce Brentz hits two dingers

Pawtucket G1 L 3-5 (F/8)

Deven Marrero: 1-4

Blake Swihart: 0-4, 1 K

Rusney Castillo: 1-4, 1 R

Sam Travis: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 SB, 1 CS

Bryce Brentz: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Brian Johnson: 5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 K

Ben Taylor: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Blaine Boyer: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Pawtucket G2 W 4-2

Deven Marrero: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 K, 1 E

Rusney Castillo: 0-3

Sam Travis: 0-2, 1 BB

Bryce Brentz: 1-3, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI

Henry Owens: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Brandon Workman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

It was a big day for Brentz, who homered in each end of the double header. With Steve Selsky (likely) being demoted with the acquisition of Chase d’Arnaud, Brentz moves a little farther down the depth chart. As I’ve said before, though, the power is real and if he keeps hitting homers some team will take a chance on him. Meanwhile, there were some good signs from the pitching staff. Owens having just two walks in six innings is a step in the right direction. Workman and Taylor both had good days, too. The latter will be back on the major-league roster soon, and the former is getting closer to a chance of his own.

Salem PPD

Greenville W 8-5

Santiago Espinal: 0-4, 1 RBI

Bobby Dalbec: 0-5, 2 K

Nick Lovullo: 2-3, 1 HR, 1 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB

Yoan Aybar: 0-2, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 K

Lorenzo Cedrola: 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB

Darwinzon Hernandez: 3 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

Stephen Nogosek: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Lovullo is a former 20th round pick who is nowhere near the prospect radar and probably won’t be included in these lines for very long. He’s also the son of former bench coach and current Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. While chances are he won’t amount to much of anything, he’s on a tear right now. He’s got his batting average up to .326 and his OPS up above .800. He’s the hottest hitter in the lineup. Meanwhile, Nogosek continues to look like a reliever who could skyrocket through the system. What’s particularly interesting is that they are treating him like a true closer rather than simply throwing him on assigned nights like they do with most of their relief prospects.