Smith Jr. among top prospect performers Thursday

Rafael Devers jogged around the bases a couple of times for Class A Advanced Salem, but his two homers were not enough as Salem fell to Myrtle Beach, 3-2.

The multi-homer game was the first of the season for the Red Sox’s No. 3 prospect, although Devers now has a trio of two-homer games in his career.

Devers hit his 10th homer of the season out to right field in the fourth inning, then he tried to spark a late rally, leading off the ninth with his 11th blast, tying his career high set in 2015.

The No. 21 overall prospect has been swinging the bat well lately and has hits in 12 of his past 13 games, including his 2-for-4, two-RBI night Thursday. Devers has collected eight RBIs in his past five games and is hitting .326 through nine games in the month of August.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Thursday:

• Make that six RBIs in three games for Rockies top prospect Brendan Rodgers (No. 7 overall), as he drove in a trio of runs in a 2-for-4 performance with Class A Asheville.

• Sean Newcomb (Braves’ No. 3, No. 54 overall) has allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his past five outings after throwing six scoreless frames for Double-A Mississippi. The lefty gave up just two hits and struck out eight.

“I’ve been feeling really good lately,” Newcomb told MiLB.com. “Even the two [starts] before the last two, I was feeling good. I’ve been able to work down in the zone and I’m throwing everything for strikes.”

• Jesse Winker (Reds’ No. 3, No. 60 overall) had a perfect day at the plate for Triple-A Louisville. Winker, who is hitting .303 in 83 games with the Bats, went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. The 22-year-old also has eight games with three or more hits this season.

• Jake Bauers (Rays’ No. 3, No. 84 overall) filled up the box score for Double-A Montgomery. Bauers reached base in all five of his plate appearances, drawing two walks and going 3-for-3 with …

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