Red Sox Minor Lines: Thad Ward exits early

Pawtucket L 0-4

C.J. Chatham, SS: 1-4, 1 K

Michael Chavis, 2B: 1-4, 1 K

Rusney Castillo, RF: 0-3, 1 K

Bobby Dalbec, 1B: 0-4, 2 K

Josh Ockimey, DH: 0-3

Ryan Weber: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K (96 pitches)

Jenrry Mejia: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (18 pitches)

What is there even really to say about this one? This was just an all-around bad game for the PawSox, with the offense unable to get anything going all night long. Weber was fine, I suppose, but nine hits in fewer than six innings is not great. Mejia also gave up a couple of runs, and while one was unearned it was because of his own error. An all-around forgettable evening.

Portland G1 W 5-3

Jarren Duran, CF: 2-4, 1 R, 1 SB

Marcus Wilson, RF: 2-4, 1 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI

Tommy Joseph, 1B: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 R

Joey Curletta, DH: 1-1, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 R, 3 RBI

Daniel McGrath: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K (101 pitches)

Portland G2 W 1-0

Marcus Wilson, CF: 0-3, 2 K

Tommy Joseph, DH: 0-3, 1 K

Joey Curletta, 1B: 1-2, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K

Eduard Bazardo: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K (33 pitches)

Durbin Feltman: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (22 pitches)

If you like quick baseball games, that second one was for you. With just four hits between the two sides and it being a seven-inning contest in the doubleheader, that game was over in one hour and forty eight minutes. As for the play on the field, we haven’t talked a ton about Curletta lately, but he had a big day for the Sea Dogs. The former Mariners minor leaguer is on the 40-man after being claimed off waivers, but he’s had a tough year since getting to the Red Sox organization. Even after this big day he’s hitting .205 with a .668 OPS and he’s a definite DFA candidate if/when they need to make room for either a September call-up or to protect someone from the Rule 5 Draft this winter.

Salem W 5-1

Devlin Granberg, LF: 2-4, 2 2 B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Kole Cottam, C: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 3 RBI

Jagger Rusconi, 2B: 2-4, 1 RBI

Thad Ward: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Logan Browning: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Salem got the win here, but the big story from this game is a big-time negative. Ward was taken out of this game in the first inning after being struck by a line drive. It’s not clear as of this writing exactly how much time the righty, who has been perhaps the biggest breakout in the entire system this season, will miss. In better news, Cottam continues to swing a good bat in High-A and Browning came out of nowhere for a 4 ¹⁄₃ inning outing.

Greenville W 4-3

Brandon Howlett, 3B: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K

Jordan Wren, RF: 2-3, 2 2B, 1 BB, 1 R

Kervin Suarez, CF: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 3 RBI

Samuel Miranda, C: 2-4

Brayan Bello: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (87 pitches)

The end of the year continues to be kind to Bello, who is setting himself up for some helium next spring if he looks good in camp. He’s now allowed no more than three runs in any of his five August starts including a three-start stretch in which he’s allowed just one run in each outing. Going all the way back to the start of July he has a 2.67 ERA over 54 innings with 62 strikeouts and 12 walks.

Lowell W 2-0

Gilberto Jimenez, CF: 1-4

Jaxx Groshans, C: 3-4, 1 RBI

Cameron Cannon, 2B: 0-4, 1 K

Nicholas Northcut, 3B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 K

Nick Decker, RF: 1-4, 1 3B, 1 R, 2 K

Antoni Flores, SS: 0-4, 1 K, 1 E

Ryan Zeferjahn: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (45 pitches)

I really don’t have a whole lot to say for this one. Zeferjahn was outstanding yet again as he continues to be one of the pitchers I’m most looking forward to following next year. On the other end of the spectrum, I’m really interested to see how Flores is viewed next spring after a total down year in Lowell.

GCL CANC