Red Sox Minor Lines: Bobby Dalbec goes yard thrice

Pawtucket L 4-5

Jantzen Witte, 3B: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 R

Rusney Castillo, RF: 3-5, 1 E

Sam Travis, DH: 2-5, 1 R, 2 K

Bryce Brentz, LF: 0-5, 4 K

Josh Ockimey, 1B: 2-4, 2 HR, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Josh Taylor: 1 IP, 0 H 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (11 pitches)

Jenrry Mejia: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 K (12 pitches)

The PawSox had the lead for most of this game, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first and extending it to two in the second. Gwinnett would briefly take a one-run lead in the sixth but Pawtucket quickly tied it back up and then eventually took the lead back in the eighth. Unfortunately, Mejia couldn’t shut the door in the ninth. It’s hard to know exactly how much blame should go to the pitcher because he allowed three singles and the winning run scored on a pop up to first in foul ground. Still, the result is not what we’re looking for. On offense, Ockimey blasted a pair of homers in a standout performance for the offense, including one in the eighth to re-take the lead.

Portland L 7-8 (F/12)

Brett Netzer, 2B: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K

Bobby Dalbec, 3B: 4-5, 1 2B, 3 HR, 1 BB, 4 R, 3 RBI

Joey Curletta, 1B: 0-5, 1 BB, 2 K

Dedgar Jimenez: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 3 K (101 pitches)

Durbin Feltman: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (20 pitches)

This was an absolutely wild game out in Trenton. The game was tied at three runs apiece after nine innings, and then after a couple of scoreless extra frames the Sea Dogs scored four runs in the top of the twelfth thanks to back-to-back homers from Netzer and Dalbec. That should be enough to score most games, you’d think. Unfortunately, Jordan Weems allowed five runs in the bottom half to blow the save and take the loss. There were positives here, including a massive game from Dalbec. Finishing with 14 total bases is incredible, of course, but not striking out in six plate appearances is what stands out most to me. On the mound, Feltman was in desperate need for a strong, efficient outing like this.

Salem PPD

Greenville W 9-8

Cole Brannen, CF: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 CS

Brandon Howlett, 3B: 0-4, 1 BB, 2 K

Devlin Granberg, 1B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB

Jordan Wren, LF: 2-5, 3 K, 1 SB, 1 CS

Kole Cottam, C: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Tyler Esplin, DH: 2-5, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Kervin Suarez, 2B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 K

The pitching didn’t quite hold up for the Drive, putting them in a 7-4 hole after three innings. Greenville was able to chip away a bit after that, though, and the bullpen help Asheville scoreless for the final five innings of the night. That gave the Greenville offense a chance for a comeback, which they pulled off thanks to an three-run rally in the eighth started by Esplin’s homer and ending with a go-ahead base hit from Brannen. Even with Triston Casas getting a day of rest and Howlett going hitless, the Greenville offense was more than able to hold up.

Player of the Day: There’s no contest here. Ockimey had a multi-homer game which is usually good to get this nod, but he picked the wrong day. Bobby Dalbec is the obvious choice, hitting three homers and a double while also drawing a walk. The Sea Dogs third baseman had been off to a bit of a cold start this year, but it’s reasonable to think that was due to both cold weather and intermittent play relating to so many postponements. He’s heating up now, and while I’m certainly not the highest on Dalbec this kind of game shows why many see real upside in his potential at the plate.