Red Sox Minor Lines: Triston Casas gets a taste of High-A

Pawtucket L 3-5

C.J. Chatham, 2B: 2-4, 2 R

Rusney Castillo, DH: 2-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K

Bobby Dalbec, 3B: 0-4, 1 RBI

Josh Ockimey, 1B: 0-3, 2 K

Daniel McGrath: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K (104 pitches)

Colten Brewer: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K (29 pitches)

Trevor Kelley: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (11 pitches)

The PawSox are stumbling into the end of their season, and they’re a bit short-handed for their final couple games after September call-ups. McGrath did get called up for this start, and he was solid. It wasn’t the kind of dominance we saw so often in Portland, but the lefty has made a name for himself this year and will be a quiet possibility to start next year as a real depth piece in Triple-A, waiting for an injury or two in the rotation in 2020.

Portland L 1-7

Jarren Duran, CF: 0-4

Marcus Wilson, RF: 0-2, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB

Tommy Joseph, 1B: 0-4, 2 K

Yikes? I’m not quite sure what to say here. Wilson did get on base a couple times, which was nice, but at this point we’re just counting down the days until Wilson and Duran get to play down in Arizona.

Salem W 3-1

Ryan Fitzgerald, SS: 0-4, 1 K

Devlin Granberg, LF: 0-4, 1 R, 1 K

Kole Cottam, C: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K

Triston Casas, 1B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 R

Tyler Esplin, RF: 1-2, 1 BB

Logan Browning: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (33 pitches)

With just a couple of days left in the season, the Red Sox have opted to give a couple Greenville guys a taste of High-A before presumably sending them there to start next season. Those two guys are Casas and Esplin. Casas is, of course, the top prospect in the system and he acquainted himself quickly to the level. Esplin isn’t as highly rated but he’s been red-hot to finish this season and he had a solid day as well. Also, for perhaps the final time in 2019, the Logan Browning fan club (me and maybe one or two other non family members) can assemble.

Greenville L 0-8

Brandon Howlett, DH: 1-4, 1 K

Jordan Wren, RF: 2-4

Cole Brannen, CF: 1-2, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB

Brayan Bello: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 K (80 pitches)

This was an extremely tough game for Greenville, including for their starting pitcher. Bello has had a very strange season, but was getting hot again towards the end of the year. His 2019 will end on a sour note, but he’s still a sleeper to watch in 2020.

Lowell W 5-4

Gilberto Jimenez, CF: 0-5

Cameron Cannon, 2B: 0-2, 1 R

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

Antoni Flores, SS: 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K

Nicholas Northcut, 3B: 0-4, 2 K

Ryan Zeferjahn: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K (56 pitches)

Jimenez has stolen the headlines from Lowell this year, but Decker used the off day from the former to remind people that he’s had a hell of a year as well. The 2018 second round pick was essentially in his professional debut this year and he held his own. The batting average wasn’t there, but that’s to be expected. He’s well-regarded because of his power, and he showed that off with a .224 Isolated Power.