Red Sox Minor League Recap: Greenville Clinches First Series Win of May Behind Kyson Witherspoon’s Dominant Outing

[Ben Lofy]

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Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Series at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees): 4-2

Season Record: 27-27

Worcester fell back to .500 as they lost 1-0 in a pitching duel. 

Alec Gamboa got the start in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. He turned in four frames of good pitching, allowing one solo home run amid three hits. He struck out four in what would have been an excellent outing had he not been out-pitched by the RailRiders’ Adam Kloffenstein. Kloffenstein one-upped Gamboa with six shutout innings and ten strikeouts. Despite Gamboa’s early exit, the WooSox bullpen strung together an excellent six innings of one-hit ball. Seth Martinez allowed the hit in his inning of immediate relief, punching out three before Angel Bastardo took over. Bastardo was nearly perfect, allowing one walk and striking out two in his inning. Kyle Keller came in next with a flawless inning, striking out one. Wyatt Olds finished the game, allowing one baserunner and striking out one. It was an excellent performance from the WooSox who were just barely outmatched. 

On the other side of the ball, the WooSox offense was stumped by the RailRiders’ dominant pitching. Only three batters, Vinny Capra, Anthony Seigler, and Tsung-Che Cheng, recorded hits as each collected a single. Cheng and Kristian Campbell were the only batters to draw a walk as Worcester totaled just five baserunners all game. On the other hand, they struck out an astonishing fifteen times in just 27 at-bats. The WooSox offense will look to reset next week as  they managed to go home with the series win.

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Series at Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets): 4-2

Season Record: 26-24

The Sea Dogs returned to the win column with a 3-1 win led by strong pitching. 

Gage Ziehl allowed Binghamton’s lone run in his four inning start. The run came on a solo home run, one of three hits allowed by Ziehl as he punched out six batters, his most in nearly a month. Max Carlson earned the win for his two-inning relief effort. Allowing two hits, Carlson K’d two before turning the ball over to Cooper Adams to start the seventh. Adams went the distance, closing the game and earning his fourth save of the year as he matched his season best with five strikeouts. 

Despite the two-run win, Portland’s batters were quiet in the box. Five batters collected a single as the Sea Dogs drew four walks as well. Not a single batter recorded an RBI, however, as all three of the Sea Dogs runs scored by way of a throwing error. In the seventh, Franklin Arias reached second on an error with the bases loaded. As the Rumble Ponies’ left fielder bobbled the catch, Miguel Bleis, Nelly Taylor, and Tyler McDonough raced around the bases. All three scored as Portland took a late lead and didn’t give it up.

High-A Greenville Drive

Series vs. Asheville Tourists (Houston Astros): 4-2

Season Record: 20-29

Greenville won their first series of the month behind Kyson Witherspoon’s best start yet.

Kyson Witherspoon’s professional career got off to a rocky start as the acclaimed prospect has struggled to settle in. However, on Sunday Witherspoon was excellent. Over five innings, the longest start of his season, Witherspoon allowed three hits and three walks. It was the first time he hadn’t allowed a run to score as he showed flashes of his brilliant potential. Witherspoon struck out four as he lowered his season ERA to 5.55. Calvin Bickerstaff got the ball to start the sixth, and things nearly got out of hand for the righty. Over one and ⅔ innings, Bickerstaff allowed three runs on three hits and a walk. Luckily for Greenville, Danny Kirwin was able to stave off the upset as he closed out the win. Over the final two and ⅓ innings, Kirwin struck out four and allowed one hit. 

It was a slugfest for Greenville on Sunday as four of their five runs came via solo home runs. Justin Gonzales struck first with a lead-off home run in the first, his seventh of the year. In the fourth, Hudson White drove in Jack Winnay on a sac fly to extend the lead to two. Winnay then smashed his seventh homer of the season in the sixth inning. After a three-run inning from Asheville tied the game, Isaiah Jackson joined the home run party. He cranked his seventh of the year to grab the lead. Winnay stepped to the plate next, hitting his second homer of the night as he and Jackson went back-to-back to put an exclamation point on the victory. It was the first series win for Greenville since late April, the last time the two teams faced off.

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Series vs. Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers): 3-3

Season Record: 23-28

Carried by an excellent performance from their pitching staff, the RidgeYaks prevailed 1-0. 

Jacob Mayers lowered his ERA to 2.16 during his three-inning appearance on Sunday afternoon. Mayers allowed three baserunners via walk, but none on hits. He struck out three before Cole Tolbert took over. Tolbert earned the win as he continued to campaign for a call up to High-A. The righty allowed just two hits and a walk over four and ⅔ innings as he struck out three, lowering his season ERA to an impressive 1.35. Wuilliams Rodriguez earned his second save of the season as he sealed the game with a perfect one and ⅓ innings of work. It was a stellar game all around for a staff that let up nine runs just two days prior. 

Salem was quiet at the plate, but did just enough to claim the win. The game's only run came in the first inning as Andruw Musett drove in Andrews Opata on a line drive single. The RidgeYaks tallied six hits, but failed to draw a walk in Sunday’s contest. Opata led the way with two hits and the games only run as Salem salvaged a series tie in the finale.

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