:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69528353/Minor_Lines.0.jpg)
Worcester SUSP
Portland PPD
Greenville W 5-4
Nick Sogard, 3B: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI
Cameron Cannon, 2B: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 R
Tyreque Reed, 1B: 1-3, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K
Kole Cottam, DH: 2-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K
Chase Shugart (SP): 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K (85 pitches)
Alex Scherff (SV): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (12 pitches)
It’s nice to see Reed get another ball to leave the yard here for Greenville, hitting his second homer in as many days. He had hit a little bit of a power snag coming into this week, so it looks like that’s behind him. This homer also had the added bonus of serving as the game-winner in the eighth. But I want to focus more on Scherff right now. It wasn’t all that long ago that the righty was seen as an intriguing starting pitching prospect, but he never was able to stay healthy or consistent in that role, and this year he’s been shifted entirely to a relief role. It’s working out. After this dominant save, Scherff has a 2.91 ERA through 21 2⁄3 innings with 36 strikeouts and 11 walks. It seems this role suits his game very well, and at 23 years old it would be super surprising to see him pushed up a level before this season is done.
Salem W 9-7
Matthew Lugo, SS: 1-5, 1 R, 1 SB, 1 E
Jaxx Groshans, DH: 1-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K
Joe Davis, 1B: 1-5, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K
Nick Northcut, 3B: 2-5, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 E
Dean Miller, RF: 2-3, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 K
Stephen Scott, PH/LF: 1-3, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K
Brandon Walter (SP): 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K (64 pitches)
Cody Scroggins (SV): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (37 pitches)
Walter is quickly starting to land on my radar with his performance of late. The southpaw has been good all season, but up until last week that work had come out of the bullpen. He was dominant enough his last time out to get himself named our Pitcher of the Week, and he followed that up with another strong showing. He’s certainly not going deep into games, but he’s proving to be able to control the zone with ease at this level. After this latest outing, he has a 1.45 ERA over 31 innings with 46 strikeouts to only six walks. We should also give a shoutout to Miller, who has struggled to get going this year in sporadic playing time but now has two straight games with a home run.
Player of the Day: Dean Miller