Roman Anthony absolutely mashed a ball so far out of the park for Portland that it could’ve landed in Presque Isle or Old Orchard Beach, whichever locale you prefer! This wasn’t just a home run, it was a statement, especially with the 19-year-old Justin Gonzales batting ahead of him. The Sea Dogs took down the Fightin Phils 7-5, and Anthony’s huge night, coming back from a lengthy finger injury, was the biggest headline of the farm system.
Portland’s Bats Wake Up, Anthony Leads The Charge
Talk about a debut or, well, a *re*-debut! Anthony came back from that finger injury and didn’t just play, he *exploded*. His mammoth shot led the charge, but he wasn’t done. The dude got on base three other times, with a single and two walks. That’s a massive night! Justin Gonzales, still just 19 years old and promoted, looked pretty good himself, going 2-for-5. Even Henry Godbout, who’s been struggling a bit, finally smacked his first homer since getting to Double-A. Brooks Brannon and Yoelin Cespedes kept the line moving with doubles, Cespedes’ first since his promotion, too. All that offensive firepower allowed Dalton Rogers to pitch into the sixth inning and rack up eight strikeouts. It was a battering of the Reading pitcher, plain and simple, and it paid off with a big 7-5 win.
Worcester’s Offensive Woes, Pitching Depth In A Peculiar Spot
Meanwhile, things weren’t so hot down in Syracuse for the WooSox. They managed only two hits and didn’t draw a single walk in a tough 1-5 loss. Trevor Story, still rehabbing, went hitless, which stings. Romy Gonzalez and Allan Castro were the only two to even get base hits, and those were back-to-back, with Romy eventually scoring. You just can’t win baseball games with that kind of offensive output. What’s wild is the pitching was actually serviceable, even “great” in spots. Jedixson Paez gave them four solid innings, followed by Patrick Halligan for three in relief, and then veteran John Brebbia. They pitched their hearts out, but a team needs more than two hits. It looks like the WooSox pitching staff is really taking one for the team, supplementing the big league club’s sudden lack of depth, especially since any other viable options were dealt in that Adley Rutschman trade. It’s a peculiar spot for pitching depth to be in just a month after the deadline, even with Craig Breslow making some good offensive moves.
Even with Greenville losing 4-7 to the Dash, they at least put up ten hits. The Tar Heel duo from this year’s draft, Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull, both reached base three times each, showing some good signs despite the pitching not being particularly good.
The buzz around Anthony returning to Fenway isn’t going to die down, but even without him, Portland is looking like an exciting squad for the rest of 2026 and heading into 2027. Keep an eye on those Sea Dogs, because if this is what Anthony brings, they’re going to be a must-watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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