Red Sox Minor Lines: Thad Ward doing Thad Ward things

Pawtucket L 3-4

Gorkys Hernández, CF: 1-2, 1 HR, 3 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 CS

Chad De La Guerra, SS: 2-5, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K

Marco Hernandez, 2B: 0-4, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K

Bryce Brentz, LF: 1-4, 1 BB, 1 K

Rusney Castillo, DH: 1-4, 1 BB, 2 K

Travis Lakins: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K (20 pitches)

Bobby Poyner: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (33 pitches)

Jenrry Mejia: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 K (17 pitches)

It was a tough game for the PawSox, who took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning thanks to a go-ahead run scored by Marco Hernandez on a double play ball, and that lead held into the bottom of the ninth. Mejia couldn’t hold on, though, struggling in his save chance and blowing the game. Prior to that, the bullpen had been bending but not breaking, though Mejia fully broke. After a solid start o the year Mejia has struggled of late, allowing runs in six of his last fourteen outings. His ERA on the year is now 5.13. On a more positive note, Gorkys Hernánez is red-hot with five homers in the last week and his OPS jumping from .557 to .704 in just seven games.

Portland L 3-4 (F/11)

Jarren Duran, CF: 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K

Bobby Dalbec, 3B: 1-4, 2 BB, 1 K

Joey Curletta, 1B: 1-6, 1 R, 3 K

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

Tanner Houck: 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 11 K (110 pitches)

The Sea Dogs couldn’t hold on in this one, losing in extra innings when the automatic runner on second ended up scoring on a sacrifice fly. Apparently it was a close play becuse the Sea Dogs manger was ejected after the run scored. The blown game really hurts because of what Houck did. Yes, he did allow seven hits, two of which were doubles and the rest singles, but eleven strikeouts and no walks is....well, it’s eleven strikeouts and no walks. After a bit of a rough path in the middle of his year Houck has now tossed quality starts in four of his last five outings with at least seven strikeouts in all of them.

Salem W 9-7

Tanner Nishioka, DH: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 K

Ryan Fitzgerald, SS: 1-5, 1 R, 1 K

Pedro Castellanos, 1B: 3-5, 1 2B, 2 R

Marcus Wilson, CF: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 SB, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 K

Eduard Bazardo: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (3 pitches)

It’s nice to see some action from Salem’s offense, which has been largely quiet since Jarren Duran was promoted to Portland. The biggest part of that today was the guy who replaced Duran in center field. Wilson was, of course, the return in the Blake Swihart deal, and he struggled mightily immediately upon joining the organization. He’s swinging the bat a lot better, though, and he could be in line for a call-up back to Portland (that’s where he was immediately after the trade) at some point if he keeps swinging a hot bat.

Greenville W 7-3

Cole Brannen, CF: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI

Tyler Esplin, RF: 1-4, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 CS, 1 E

Devlin Granberg, DH: 1-2, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 CS

Triston Casas, 1B: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 2 K

Jonathan Ortega, 3B: 2-3, 2 2B, 1 R

Thad Ward: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K (98 pitches)

Logan Browning: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (11 pitches)

Thad Ward is just out here doing Thad Ward things. Esplin’s error prevented this outing from being a true shutout, but Ward didn’t allow an earned run in this one and has watched his ERA fall all the way down to 1.84 on the year. He has now gone five straight starts without allowing an earned run, and in that time he has 36 strikeouts to just four walks in 32 ¹⁄₃ innings. I think maybe he should be sent on up soon, because the domination is off the charts. Flying a bit more under-the-radar has been Browning. The reliever is a bit old for the level, to be fair, but he has 42 strikeouts to just six walks all year in 35 ²⁄₃ innings.

DSL 1 W 16-9

Alex Zapete, 1B: 3-6, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 E

Eduardo Lopez, CF 0-4, 1 BB, 1 R

Darel Belen, DH: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 R, 4 RBI, 1 K

Albert Feliz, LF: 4-5, 1 2B, 3 HR, 3 R, 6 RBI, 1 K, 1 E

Brandon Rincones, 2B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI

Frank Astacio, 3B: 2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 E

DSL 2 L 3-8

Bryan Gonzalez, DH: 0-4, 1 K

Axel James, 2B: 2-4, 2 K, 1 E

The two biggest names in the DSL, Lopez and Gonzalez, were two of the few without big games on Thursday. We’ll have more on the biggest game in just a second.

Player of the Day: This was a big day on the farm with a few really great performances, most notably from Tanner Houck and Thad Ward. However, this goes to Albert Feliz, who blasted three homers in the DSL. The outfielder was a solid J2 signing last year, netting $400,000 for a signing bonus. There is certainly some power potential here, as we saw in this game.