Red Sox Minor League Report: Greenville Drive's Bats Come Up Clutch In Ninth Inning

Let's check in on everything that happened down in the Boston Red Sox's farm system on Friday.

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Series @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies): 2-2

Season Record: 35-34

Worcester fell 9-3 as Brayan Bello’s struggles continued to mount up. 

Bello’s miscues have been well documented throughout 2026, eventually resulting in a demotion to Worcester. In his second appearance since being sent down, Bello struggled to find solid ground, a consistent trend throughout most of his starts this season. Over four and ⅔ innings pitched, Bello allowed three runs on seven hits. He struck out five but his woes continued despite being a step below the big leagues. Joe La Sorsa, another recent demoted player, took the next 1⅓ innings and was excellent. He allowed one hit but that was all as he turned the ball over to Angel Bastardo. Bastardo got the loss for his one inning outing, allowing one more run on two hits. Seth Martinez took the next ⅔ innings as the game got out of hand. Martinez allowed five more runs on five hits before first baseman Nathan Hickey took the final out of an embarrassing defeat. 

The WooSox struggled to get much going from the plate, reaching base eight times and only having two opportunities at the plate with runners in scoring position. Anthony Seigler and Matt Thaiss had two hits apiece as they generated most of Worcester’s offense. Thaiss got the WooSox on the board with a two RBI single in the fourth. The WooSox only other run came an inning later on Tyler McDonough’s third homer of the season as Worcester grabbed its only lead of the day. The bats were all but silent for the rest of the game as Worcester dropped its second in a row.

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Series vs. Somerset Patriots (New York Yankees): 3-1

Season Record: 34-32

Portland triumphed 6-2 behind a nine-strikeout appearance from Gage Ziehl. 

Ziehl put together one of his best appearances of the season on Friday night. He notched a season-high nine punchouts as he lowered his ERA to 4.56. Ziehl allowed two runs on four hits but didn’t allow a walk over five innings, earning his third win of the season. Max Carlson took the next three innings, allowing two hits but no runs. He struck out three before turning the ball over to Erik Rivera. Rivera was excellent, allowing one hit and striking out one as he sealed the win for Portland. 

Ahbram Liendo led the way with two hits and three RBIs during Friday night's contest. However, it was Marvin Alcantara who struck first for the Sea Dogs. Alcantara drove in Johanfran Garcia and Miguel Bleis on a double in the second inning. Portland grabbed the lead and didn’t look back as Stanley Tucker drove in Alcantara with an RBI double of his own. Not to be left out, Liendo joined in on the fun. He smashed his fourth homer of the year, driving in Tucker and capping off a five-run second inning. In the seventh, Liendo struck again. He drove in Nelly Taylor on an RBI single as he put an exclamation mark on the four-run victory. 

High-A Greenville Drive

Series @ Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies): 2-2

Season Record: 27-37

Greenville won behind a strong three-run ninth inning. 

Kyson Witherspoon has slowly begun to replicate his stellar final season at Oklahoma over his past few starts. This trend continued on Friday as he pitched five innings. He allowed two runs on four hits, but struck out a season-high eight batters. He allowed two walks, but it was a successful appearance for the young righty. Joe Vogatsky took the next three innings and was equally as impressive. Vogatsky allowed three hits but prevented Jersey Shore from scoring any runs as he sat down five batters on strikes, earning Friday’s win. Steven Brooks closed out the victory with a perfect ninth inning, completing the save opportunity. 

Despite a slow start, Greenville’s bats came up clutch to give it the win. Ronny Hernandez gave the Drive their first run of the day, clubbing his sixth homer of the season and cutting the lead to one run. In the top of the ninth inning, with the score 2-1 in favor of Jersey Shore, Mason White stepped to the plate with hero aspirations. He came through clutch, hitting his third triple of the year and tying the game as Hernandez scored. Then, Yoeilin Cespedes hit his first triple of the year, driving in White and giving the Drive a one run advantage. Cespedes crossed home on a Luke Heyman groundout as the lead was extended. It was better late than never on Friday as the Drive overcame early struggles to claim the win. 

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Series @ Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals): 2-2

Season Record: 26-40

Salem won its second game in a row as the top of the order was excellent. 

Brady Tygart started Friday’s game for Salem and turned in a great outing. Over 2⅓ innings Tygart allowed two hits and walked two as he struck out three. Tygart is closing in on a return from injury and could be added to Salem’s roster in the near future. It wasn’t a lengthy outing from Tygart as he turned the ball over to Jacob Mayers in the third inning. Mayers earned the win for his 3⅔ innings of ball. He allowed one run on two hits as he walked four. He struck out six before Wuilliams Rodriguez took over in the seventh inning. Rodriguez struggled, allowing four runs on five hits. He also struggled with command, surrendering four walks. Adam Bates took the final 1⅓ innings, allowing four walks and a run but doing just enough to give Salem the victory as he earned a save. 

Salem’s top five batters each recorded an RBI, led by Andrews Opata and Kleyver Salazar who had two hits each. Ilan Fernandez scored in the top of the third to open the scoring, crossing home on an Avinson Pinto groundout. Later in the inning, Andruw Musett and Kleyvar Salazar scored as Skylar King reached on a fielding error. Salazar added to the lead in the seventh inning with an RBI single, driving home Justin Barry. Pinto then scored as Musett drew a bases loaded walk. Later in the seventh, Opata scored on a Skylar King sac fly. In the eighth, Opata added another run, driving in Justin Barry on a single to right. Despite a late-innings fight from Fredericksburg, Salem was able to hold onto the win behind efficient hitting.

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