Hope in Beantown

[OmahaBaseball]

Red Sox Ride Houck, Duran to 5–2 Win Over White Sox

Boston, MA — The Boston Red Sox capitalized on strong pitching from Tanner Houck and timely power hitting from Jarren Duran to defeat the Chicago White Sox, 5–2, on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.

Houck (16–8) went seven solid innings, limiting Chicago to two runs on three hits while striking out seven; Game Score 69. He allowed a two-run homer to Andrew Vaughn in the fourth inning but otherwise kept the White Sox offense quiet. Ryne Stanek (H 4) pitched a scoreless 8th-inning, while Liam Hendriks earned his 34th save of the season, striking out the side in the ninth.

Boston jumped ahead early when Rafael Devers tripled home a run and Duran followed with a two-run shot—his 23rd homer of the year—to make it 3–0 in the third. Vaughn’s fourth-inning blast briefly cut the deficit to one, but Vaughn Grissom restored Boston’s cushion with a solo homer in the seventh, and Tommy Edman added a two-out RBI single.

Garrett Crochet (14–12) took the loss for Chicago, surrendering five earned runs and nine hits over 6⅔ innings while fanning nine; Game Score 43. Vaughn collected two of the White Sox’s three hits.

The Red Sox (79–63) improved their postseason chances with the win, while the struggling White Sox fell to 55–88. Rain fell intermittently throughout the three-hour contest, which drew 33,022 fans.

Player of the Game: Tanner Houck (Season: #12)

AL East Standings: 2nd Place, 3 Games Behind

[OmahaBaseball]

Late Rally Lifts White Sox Over Red Sox, 5–3

Boston, MA — Behind a standout performance from rookie left-hander Noah Schultz and a clutch double from Edgar Quero, the Chicago White Sox rallied late to defeat the Boston Red Sox, 5–3, on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.

Schultz, rated the 12th-best prospect in baseball by BNN, showed poise beyond his years, tossing eight innings of five-hit, three-run ball while striking out eight to earn his fourth win against two losses on the season; Game Score 65. Prelander Berroa closed out the game for his 31st save, allowing two hits but no runs in the ninth.

Boston took a 3–2 lead in the fifth inning, helped by RBI hits from Vaughn Grissom and Rafael Devers, but Chicago stormed back in the eighth. With the bases loaded, Quero ripped a two-run double to left-center, putting the White Sox on top, 4–3. Yoán Moncada added insurance with a two-out RBI single.

Eloy Jiménez powered the offense with four hits, including two doubles, while Adam Haseley and Luis Robert Jr. each contributed a hit and run scored. Chicago finished with 10 hits and made the most of its late chances after stranding runners early.

Boston starter Logan Gilbert (9-13) struck out 11 over 7⅓ innings, but was tagged with the loss after giving up four earned runs on eight hits; Game Score 56. Reliever Nick Pivetta (BS 1) was charged with a blown save after surrendering the go-ahead runs, including permitting two of the inherited runners to score.

With the win, Chicago improved to 56–88 on what has otherwise been a difficult season, while Boston fell to 79–64 as they continue to chase an American League Wild Card spot.

Player of the Game: Noah Schultz

AL East Standings: 2nd Place, 4 Games Behind

[OmahaBaseball]

Angels Playoff Hopes Dashed

The Los Angeles Angels reached the "tragic" number today and with that, their playoff hopes were laid to rest. Perhaps next year will prove better for the Angels.

[OmahaBaseball]

Tucker is Terrific - Named AL's Best

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker put together an outstanding week, as he posted a slashline of .478/.571/.957 in which he smacked 3 Doubles, 1 Triple, 2 Homeruns, 5 Runs, 7 RBI, 5 Walks, and 2 Stolen Bases. On the week, Tucker generated 0.8 WAR.

[OmahaBaseball]

Harris Nabs NL Award

For the second time of the season, Atlanta Braves superstar Michael Harris II was named the National League Player of the Week. In picking up the honor, Harris had 5 Doubles, 1 Homerun, 8 Runs, 8 RBI, and 1 Walk for a slashline of .448/.467/.724 that created 0.5 WAR.

[OmahaBaseball]

Power Rankings -- Week 24

The Power Rankings list might have a new leader but one that is no stranger to the top spot, as the Philadelphia Phillies (114.7 points) are once again top dog! The Atlanta Braves (108.9 points) and New York Yankees (107.4 points) are next in line. The Boston Red Sox (98.4 points) fell several spots and now occupy the 9th spot. The Seattle Mainers (67.6 points) have hold of last place.

Previous week's rankings: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...&postcount=433

[OmahaBaseball]

Glove Wizards Shine Across Carolina League

In a league where offense often grabs the headlines, the Carolina League took time to honor the players who turn hits into outs and make the spectacular look routine. The annual Glove Wizard Awards recognize the top defensive players at each position, and this year’s winners earned their reputation with quick reflexes, sure hands, and flawless fundamentals.

Pitcher: Seth Keener (Kannapolis Cannon Ballers / Chicago White Sox)
Keener proved that defense doesn’t stop when the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. The Cannon Ballers right-hander displayed cat-like instincts on comebackers, finishing the year without a single fielding error on 20 total chances in 133 innings played.


Catcher: Jesus Chirinos (Carolina Mudcats / Milwaukee Brewers)
Chirinos anchored the Mudcats’ defense with a commanding presence behind the plate. His strong arm deterred would-be base stealers, and his soft hands turned borderline pitches into strikes. Chirinos committed just 2 errors in 1189 total chances, while throwing out 10 runners and allowing only 7 passed balls.


First Base: Xavier Casserilla (Fayetteville Woodpeckers / Houston Astros)
Casserilla’s sure glove and nimble footwork saved countless infielders from throwing errors. He turned the first base bag into a fortress, scooping up low throws and flashing soft hands on tough hops. On the season, he committed just 1 error on 657 total chances (.998%) and helped turn 64 double plays.


Second Base: Moises Paiva (Fredericksburg Nationals / Washington Nationals)
Paiva was the steady heartbeat of the Nationals’ infield, combining quick turns on double plays with smooth range to both sides. His reliability up the middle kept Fredericksburg in tight games all summer. On the season, Paiva fielded 332 total chances and committed 6 errors (.982%) while help turning 55 double plays.


Third Base: Chris Seise (Charleston RiverDogs / Tampa Bay Rays)
Seise brought the hot corner to life with lightning reflexes and a strong arm. Whether charging slow rollers or diving to his left, he made tough plays look effortless. Despite being released by the Rays just prior to the announcement, the season that Seise put together was outstanding as he manned the hot corner with just 1 miscue in 179 total chances (.994%) while assisting in 13 double plays in 678 2/3 total innings.


Shortstop: Luis Ravelo (Salem Red Sox / Boston Red Sox)
Ravelo’s highlight-reel range and precise throws made him the anchor of Salem’s defense. His ability to handle both routine grounders and deep-in-the-hole rockets set him apart as the league’s top shortstop. Ravelo committed 6 errors on 298 total chances (.980%) and was involved in 42 double plays in 679 2/3 innings.


Left Field: Alejandro Pie (Charleston RiverDogs / Tampa Bay Rays)
Pie covered ground like few others in left, showing excellent reads off the bat and the arm strength to gun down runners at second and home. With a perfect fielding record (0 errors in 150 total chances), Pie is a formidable outfielder.


Center Field: Tavian Josenberger (Delmarva Shorebirds / Baltimore Orioles)
A true field general, Josenberger’s speed and instincts turned would-be extra-base hits into easy outs. His closing speed in the gaps made pitchers breathe easier. With an astounding 11.3 arm runs, Josenberger's cannon for an arm, coupled to his 4 errors in 207 total chances (.981%) makes it that other teams are very aware of his talents.


Right Field: Henry Ramos (Columbia Fireflies / Kansas City Royals)
Ramos combined hustle, strong routes, and a cannon arm to lock down right field. Opposing base runners thought twice before challenging him. Ramos posted 5.8 arm runs and just 2 errors on 126 total chances (.984%) in 619 innings played.

[OmahaBaseball]

Anthony Crushes Ball -- Named IL's Player of the Week

What a week for Boston Red Sox promising prospect Roman Anthony, as he was named the International League's Player of the Week. In picking up the honor, Anthony smashed the ball to the tune of a .419 batting average (13 for 31) with 1 Triple, 4 Homeruns, 9 Runs, 7 RBI, and 6 Walks for a slashline of .419/.514/.871 that generated 0.5 WAR. I have kept Anthony in the minors longer than I should have, and need to find a spot for him soon.

[OmahaBaseball]

Orioles Top Red Sox Behind Povich’s Strong Start, 7–3

Boston, MA — Left-hander Cade Povich delivered a steady outing and got plenty of support from Baltimore’s young core as the Orioles defeated the Red Sox 7–3 Monday night at Fenway Park.

Povich (11–7) tossed 7⅓ innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out seven and walking two; Game Score 61. He was named Player of the Game for his effort, helping the Orioles improve to 79–66, pulling closer in the American League Wild Card race. Craig Kimbrel (H 13) and Felix Bautista (SV 29) kept the game in check.

Rookie sensation Jackson Holliday continued to make his mark, collecting two hits and two RBI, including a key run-scoring single in the fifth that extended Baltimore’s lead to 3–1. Gunnar Henderson launched his 34th home run in the first inning, Adley Rutschman added a solo shot in the fourth, and Ryan O’Hearn went deep in the sixth to give Baltimore three long balls off Boston starter Kutter Crawford (11–9), who surrendered five runs and three homers in five innings; Game Score 41.

For Boston, rookie catcher Kyle Teel was a bright spot, going 3-for-4 with a home run, double, and two RBI. Tyler O’Neill added a solo shot, his 28th of the year, but the rest of the Red Sox lineup managed little against Baltimore’s pitching. Boston dropped to 79–65 with the loss.

Player of the Game: Cade Povich

AL East Standings: 2nd Place, 5 Games Behind

[OmahaBaseball]

Schwarber’s Power Surge Lifts Phillies Past Rays, 7–4

Philadelphia, PA — The “hardest feat in sports” may never be settled, but Kyle Schwarber made his case Saturday night. The Philadelphia Phillies slugger crushed three home runs at Citizens Bank Park, powering his club to a 7–4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Schwarber was unstoppable at the plate, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and four runs scored. His solo shot off Taj Bradley in the second inning set the tone early. After striking out in the fourth, Schwarber launched a two-run blast off Bradley in the seventh and added another solo homer off Pete Fairbanks in the ninth. He later drew a walk in the 11th to cap his night.

With the trio of home runs, Schwarber raised his season total to 34, complementing a .245 average with 117 hits, 74 runs scored, and 77 RBI across 478 at-bats.

[OmahaBaseball]

Sena Grabs CAR Reliever of the Year Honors

Reidis Sena was a calming influence out of the Salem Red Sox bullpen this season. His teammates and manager said he had a poised demeanor about him that was typical of someone much older and more experienced. His poise has paid off, as the 23-year-old turned in a sparkling season and has been named the winner of the Carolina League Reliever of the Year for 2024.

The Dominican Republic native won the award with 37 saves in 54 relief appearances, 79 strikeouts in 62.2 innings and a record of 4-4 to go with his 2.01 ERA. He received 11 first place votes out of a possible 12. Aldrin Batista of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers finished second in voting with 1 first place vote, while Maycold Leon of the Delmarva Shorebirds finished third.

Player                 Team      	    1st Place  Total Points

Reidis Sena   	  Salem Red Sox     		11          56
Aldrin Batista	  Kannapolis Cannon Ballers	 1	    28
Maycold Leon 	  Delmarva Shorebirds 		 0 	    12
Roel Garcia	  Charleston RiverDogs 		 0	     6
Adam Tulloch 	  Lynchburg Hillcats 		 0	     6

[OmahaBaseball]

Washington Out of Time, Out of Playoffs

Despite their best efforts, the Washington Nationals were officially eliminated from playoff contention today. Washington last appeared in the postseason in 2019. This is their 5th consecutive year missing the playoffs, and in total they have not advanced past the regular season 51 times in their 56-year history.

[OmahaBaseball]

Red Sox Edge Orioles 5–4 Behind Bello’s Composed Outing

Boston, MA — The Boston Red Sox held off a late charge by the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night, securing a 5–4 victory at Fenway Park to improve to 80–65 on the season. Right-hander Brayan Bello anchored the effort, scattering 11 hits and striking out eight over seven gritty innings to notch his 15th win of the year against 12 losses; Game Score 47.

Boston jumped out early, plating three runs in the first inning and adding another in the second. Catcher Kyle Teel provided the eventual game-winner, crushing a solo homer to left-center off Baltimore starter John Means in the fifth to extend Boston’s lead to 5–2. It was Teel’s 13th home run of the campaign and his second RBI of the night. The Orioles refused to go quietly. Cedric Mullins and Gunnar Henderson each went deep off Bello, while rookie Coby Mayo doubled home a pair of runs in the seventh to cut the deficit to one. But veteran closer Liam Hendriks locked it down in the ninth, working around a two-out double by Mayo to collect his 35th save in 38 chances.

Means (6–11) took the loss, yielding five runs—just two earned—on seven hits and four walks over four innings; Game Score 33. He was followed by a strong bullpen effort: José Cisnero and Tyler Wells combined for four scoreless frames to keep Baltimore within striking distance. For Boston, Marcelo Mayer reached base twice and swiped a pair of bags, while Ceddanne Rafaela added two doubles and a pair of hits in the victory. The win, coupled with Baltimore’s loss, nudged the Red Sox further ahead in the crowded American League Wild Card race.

Player of the Game: Brayan Bello (Season: #6)

AL East Standings: 2nd Place, 5 Games Behind

[OmahaBaseball]

Carolina League Platinum Stick Award Winners

A group of established and budding Carolina League stars were today named winners of the Carolina League Platinum Stick Award. For standout offensive performances, the 2024 winners are:

Catcher: Jesus Chirinos (Carolina Mudcats / Milwaukee Brewers)
.213/.393/.415, 352 AB, 19 HR, 3 SB, 141 wRC+, 4.5 WAR

First Baseman: Seung-hyun Jang (Charleston RiverDogs / Tampa Bay Rays)
.289/.394/.509, 273 AB, 15 HR, 2 SB, 166 wRC+, 2.4 WAR

Second Baseman: Edwin Barragan (Charleston RiverDogs / Tampa Bay Rays)
.234/.372/.402, 363 AB, 11 HR, 5 SB, 131 wRC+, 2.0 WAR

Third Baseman: Jose Pastrano (Lynchburg Hillcats / Cleveland Guardians)
.273/.394/.445, 436 AB, 11 HR, 2 SB, 148 wRC+, 3.1 WAR

Shortstop: Jose Devers (Lynchburg Hillcats / Cleveland Guardians)
.266/.390/.456, 331 AB, 10 HR, 5 SB, 151 wRC+, 2.5 WAR

Left Fielder: Jaison Chourio (Lynchburg Hillcats / Cleveland Guardians)
.326/.459/.502, 267 AB, 9 HR, 15 SB, 184 wRC+, 5.3 WAR

Center Fielder: Samuel Zavala (Kannapolis Cannon Ballers / Chicago White Sox)
.198/.409/.442, 394 AB, 25 HR, 6 SB, 153 wRC+, 6.3 WAR

Right Fielder: Caden Connor (Kannapolis Cannon Ballers / Chicago White Sox)
.306/.397/.425, 395 AB, 9 HR, 1 SB, 145 wRC+, 2.0 WAR

Designated Hitter: Miguel Hernandez (Augusta GreenJackets / Atlanta Braves)
.385/.467/.590, 278 AB, 5 HR, 214 wRC+, 4.3 WAR

[OmahaBaseball]

Flaherty Shines as Red Sox Down Orioles 5–2 at Fenway

Boston, MA – Jack Flaherty delivered a strong performance Wednesday night at Fenway Park, guiding the Boston Red Sox to a 5–2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. The victory lifted Boston to 81–65 on the season, while Baltimore fell to 79–68.

Flaherty (14–10) went eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking three on 115 total pitches; Game Score 60. Liam Hendriks earned his 36th save with a clean ninth inning. Boston’s offense came alive late, breaking a 2–2 tie in the seventh inning when Vaughn Grissom singled home a go-ahead run. Rafael Devers chipped in with two doubles and two runs scored, while Tyler O’Neill added a pair of RBI.

Orioles ace Corbin Burnes (18–8) took the loss after allowing 5 earned runs while striking out eight over 7⅔ innings; Game Score 48. Jackson Holliday doubled and drove in a run for Baltimore, and Gunnar Henderson added an RBI sac fly. The Red Sox defense also made its mark — O’Neill cut down Cedric Mullins at the plate from right field to keep the score tied earlier in the game. A great win to provide some slight separation in the Wild Card race.

Player of the Game: Jack Flaherty (Season: #12)

AL East Standings: 2nd Place, 4 Games Behind

[OmahaBaseball]

Glasnow Fires No-Hitter as Dodgers Dominate Cubs, 8–0

Los Angeles, CA — Excitement reigned at Dodger Stadium Wednesday night as Los Angeles Dodgers ace Tyler Glasnow etched his name into baseball lore, firing a No-Hitter in an 8–0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs. Before a roaring crowd of 52,461, Glasnow overpowered Chicago with nine strikeouts and allowed just four walks across nine masterful innings. He threw 122 pitches, 67 for strikes, earning a Game Score of 92. It was the 17th win of the season for the right-hander, who improved to 17–6 with a 3.75 ERA.

Los Angeles backed its starter early, plating two runs in the first and another in the second off Cubs starter Cade Horton (8–8). Mookie Betts launched a two-run homer—his 27th of the season—in the opening frame, and Shohei Ohtani added a two-run single to push the lead further. Veteran Jason Heyward sealed the rout with a two-run homer in the eighth and finished 2-for-3 with 4 RBI.

Horton was tagged for six runs and eight hits in 6⅓ innings, while Mark Leiter Jr. allowed two more in relief. Chicago’s lineup was completely stymied; no Cubs batter managed a hit. Seiya Suzuki struck out three times, and the club’s only baserunners came via walks from Michael Busch, Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, and Happ again.

The Dodgers improved to 80–66, tightening their grip on a potential postseason berth, while the Cubs slipped back to 73–73.