Red Sox Minor League Report: The WooSox Offense Clicks Once Again in Fourth Straight Win

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap

Triple-A Worcester Red Sox

Season Record: 44-42

A couple of big innings from Worcester gave them eight runs, as the pitching staff just held on to an 8-7 final score against the Red Wings. Worcester did all its scoring in a two-inning burst: a five-run third followed by a three-run fourth to go up 8-1. 

Andrew Knizner had a 1-for-4 day while delivering a clutch hit in the third inning, clearing the bases with a double and getting gunned out at third base trying to stretch a triple. 

Nick Sogard was the catalyst, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a walk out of the two-hole, including a two-run ground-rule double in the fourth that extended Worcester’s lead to 7-1. Tyler McDonough added a 2-for-3, two-run afternoon at the bottom of the order. The lineup racked up nine hits, with Braiden Ward, Mickey Gasper, and Max Ferguson each tallying singles and scoring. 

It was a bullpen game for Worcester that got tense late. Osvaldo Berrios was solid in his three-inning start, only giving up one run. Tyler Uberstine settled things down while earning the win (1-0), spinning three innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts. 

The back end of the bullpen wobbled; Tyler Samaniego gave up two in the seventh, and Alec Gamboa surrendered a run in the eighth as Rochester clawed back with one in the sixth, two in the seventh, and three in the eighth to make it 8-7. But Gamboa ended the game in the ninth unscathed to preserve the one-run win.

Standout Performances:

• Nick Sogard: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
• Andrew Knizner: 1-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Season Record: 44-39

The Sea Dogs made a brief comeback but fell apart, getting blown out 15-8 against the Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays).

Portland smacked three homers and put up eight runs, but it was nowhere near enough due to the pitching staff struggling. Nate Baez had a big day, going 1-for-3 with a three-run homer. Brooks Brannon put together a 2-for-3 game, including a two-run shot as part of a 2-for-4, two-RBI, two-run game, and Franklin Arias also went deep late in the game (his 18th of the season). 

Johanfran Garcia stayed productive with a 2-for-4 day with an RBI. Caden Rose chipped in with an RBI double. The Sea Dogs answered New Hampshire's early 4-0 lead with a run in the second (Garcia RBI single), three in the fourth (Brannon two-run homer, Rose RBI double) and three in the fifth (Baez three-run homer) to briefly claw within striking distance 7-9; unfortunately, it all fell apart right after.

The pitching is where this one got away. After being ranked the best pitcher for Talk Sox in the Red Sox farm system in June, starter Gage Ziehl took the loss and got hammered, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits over three innings, including the Fisher Cats' four-run first and part of their five-run fourth. Reidis Sena couldn't stop the bleeding either, charged with five runs (though none earned, thanks to Portland’s defense) over 2 ⅓. New Hampshire piled on six more in the eighth to blow it open, finishing with 15 runs on 16 hits.

Standout Performances: 

• Brooks Brannon: 2-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
• Nate Baez: 1-for-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

High-A Greenville Drive

Season Record: 33-48

The Drive held onto a late lead against the Grasshoppers, ending the game 5-4 

The power carried Greenville, with three players going deep: Stanley Tucker's hit was the biggest, clobbering a two-run homer that gave the Drive a 4-2 lead in the seventh. Antonio Anderson and Justin Gonzales also cleared the fence in the third inning. Greenville scattered eight hits, one coming from eight different hitters with plenty of extra-base pop; Isaiah Jackson, Yoeilin Cespedes and Gerardo Rodriguez each doubled. Greenville built its runs in chunks: two in the third, two in the seventh and one in the eighth to stay a step ahead.

It was a clean game on the mound for Greenville. Joe Vogatsky started the game and threw a solid 3 ⅓ innings and six strikeouts while allowing two runs. Calvin Bickerstaff earned the win with 4 ⅓ strong innings, allowing one hit with an earned run while striking out five and walking no one. Steven Brooks closed it out for his sixth save, working a 1 ⅓ inning finish. The staff combined for an astonishing 12 strikeouts and zero walks, a big reason the Drive survived despite Greensboro's late push.

Standout Performances:

• Calvin Bickerstaff: 4 ⅓ IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 5 K
• Stanley Tucker: 1-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

Low-A Salem RidgeYaks

Season Record: 34-49

The RidgeYaks suffered a tough 5-10 defeat to the Columbia Fireflies. Salem struggled to bring in runs with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-12.

The RidgeYaks' bats were busy, but they were not efficient; 10 hits and 11 runners were left on base. Adonys Guzman provided the pop, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI single. Skylar King set the table with a hit, a walk, and two runs at leadoff. D'Angelo Ortiz and Avinson Pinto each collected two hits as well, while Ilan Fernandez collected a double. 

Salem made it interesting with a run in the first, two in the third, and one in the fifth, but the pitching staff fell apart. The RidgeYaks brought in a run in the eighth with an RBI groundout, but that was never going to be enough.

The pitching is what unraveled. Jacob Mayers started on the mound and took the loss, getting charged with four earned runs over 3 ⅔ innings with five strikeouts. 

The middle innings blew it open: Brady Tygart was tagged for five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks in just two innings. The staff issued nine walks on the night, and the two errors did not help. 

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