PORTLAND, Maine -- How much hope can fit into the first two spots of a Double-A lineup? Red Sox fans know.
Justin Gonzales (MLB's No. 79 prospect) and Boston's budding superstar Roman Anthony were at the top of the order in the Sea Dogs' lineup on Tuesday in front of a sellout crowd at Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field, with 19-year-old Gonzales making his debut at the level and Anthony seeing his first game action since May.
The rehabbing outfielder, serving as DH, belted a fifth-inning home run -- 108.1 mph off the bat -- en route to a 2-for-2, two-walk night, and Gonzales collected hits in each of his first two trips to the dish as the pair paced the Sea Dogs to a 7-5 win over Reading (PHI).
"It felt great," Anthony said "It was kind of like that stock, standard first game back where you're just going out there and playing like a kid again."
Anthony, who was beginning to heat up when he suffered a partially torn tendon in the joint that connects to his right ring finger on May 4, is following a rookie year in which he posted a .292/.396/.463 line with 27 extra-base hits (eight homers) in 71 games.
"You can injure the ring finger and feel it in the wrist and even in the hamate, so for me it was about every day taking care of everything all the up to my forearm and even in my shoulder," he said.
The long home run on Tuesday made it clear to all in the park that Anthony felt comfortable, but other swings -- and takes -- were crucial indicators that things are heading in the right direction for the 22-year-old. In the third inning, he lined an opposite-field single, and in multiple plate appearances he successfully checked his swing -- which is what he was doing when he injured that hand -- and felt good doing it.
"That [single] was the swing I was most impressed with -- going out and getting it and hitting it right where it was pitched," he said. "I was happy with that and taking the walks. ... After that, I felt very comfortable. I saw a lot of pitches and used the other side of the field. That's when I feel like I'm at my best -- is when I'm going that way.
"I try not to get too excited about one day of performance, but it was good."
It's yet to be determined how long Anthony's rehab assignment in Portland will last, or when he'll start playing full games in the outfield.
"For us, it was just, we've learned over this process we have to just take it day to day," he said. "We don't want to look too far ahead and say, 'This is when I'm going to be back,' or, 'This is when you're going to play nine innings or seven innings.' It's just, let's get through today and after the game we'll plan for tomorrow based on recovery and everything and how it goes."
Gonzales, Boston's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, finished 2-for-5 with a run scored, singling up the middle in the first and dumping another base knock into right field in the third.
The teenage outfielder mashed at High-A Greenville before getting the bump to Portland, posting a .271/.391/.463 slash line with 17 home runs, 12 doubles and 11 stolen bases over 89 games. He recovered from a small slump in June (13-for-71 on the month, but with 18 walks) before popping off in July and keeping the pace through a two-homer final showing at High-A on Sunday.
And he cuts an imposing figure. Listed at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Gonzales said some teammates have nicknamed him "La Bestia."
"I got to see him a little bit in Spring Training. Obviously, he's a monster," Anthony said. "He came in earlier today, and we looked up and I think everyone had the same reaction.
"He's a great player, a great hitter. I like to see him use every part of the field. He's going to make an impact in Boston for sure."
Spotted wearing a jewelry-encrusted teddy bear necklace during batting practice, Gonzales said through interpreting teammate Erik Rivera that although he may look like a beast, he'd prefer to be known as a teddy bear. His sweet swing may get him what he's after.
Henry Godbout, Boston's No. 6 prospect, also homered in the Sea Dogs' win -- his first in five games at Double-A and eighth on the season.
Meanwhile, in Syracuse, Trevor Story started at shortstop and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts for Triple-A Worcester.