Ben Lofy

On June 20, it seemed certain that the Boston Red Sox would be sellers at the trade deadline. A fire sale seemed imminent, and it felt like a foregone conclusion that All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman would be moved, among other pieces. But then, the improbable happened. There was a historic win streak, an infusion of magic to a season that seemed bleak at best. The Red Sox secured a playoff berth before sputtering out in the Wild Card Round. But the potential trade chips remained on the team including Chapman, the cornerstone of the Red Sox bullpen. That unit was a constant source of optimism through an up-and-down season. A 3.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP were good for league-leading marks and complemented one of the league's best rotations. But what will the relief corps look like in 2027? With Chapman and newfound star Tyron Guerrero reaching their age-39 and age-36 seasons, respectively, and ever-present injury concerns, there are plenty of questions needing answers. Red Sox's Bullpen Outlook: The Positives The Red Sox's bullpen is a terrific unit, and that should keep up in 2027. A well-rounded group as is, the Red Sox aren’t candidates to go out and sign a big name. And with the returns of Garrett Crochet, Johan Oviedo, Tanner Houck, and Kutter Crawford expected next year, the relief corps' workload should let up. With a surplus of rotational talent, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a couple of those names in the bullpen at least to start the season. Chapman has proven that he’s still a top-five closer in the game, even as he approaches his 40s. A 1.92 ERA ranked 10th among all relievers, and his 35 saves were tied for third-most across the league. His $13-million option vested at the end of the season, and while durability could be an issue, Chapman will provide late-inning stability as Boston’s closer. But before teams face Chapman, they need to get through Garrett Whitlock first. A brutal 1-2 punch, the two combined to shut down teams all season long. The righty Whitlock held opposing batters to a 1.72 ERA and walked just nine all season. With a $8.25-million club option, Boston’s dynamic duo will be back to haunt hitters throughout 2027. Then you have Guerrero, who emerged as a dependable piece down the stretch, showcasing his flame-throwing capabilities. However, he’s entering his age-36 season, and with a slim major-league sample size, it’s yet to be seen if that success is sustainable across an entire season. Erik Miller was acquired from San Francisco in exchange for former top prospect Marcelo Mayer. He began his Red Sox tenure with questions about his control, but seemed to quiet them with some early success. But as the season dragged on, the concerns resurfaced; Miller was shaky at best, posting a 7.36 ERA and limping through his final few outings of the season. But he’s proven that he can be a valuable part of the pen and will return to a middle-innings role with a $1.5 million projected paycheck in 2027. Jovani Moran and Greg Weissert weren't always consistent throughout the season, but they pitched well when it mattered and will return to similar roles in 2027. Moran posted a 3.15 ERA and held batters to a .153 average. His walks were a point of concern, however, posting a 4.25 BB/9 mark. Despite being inconsistent in high-leverage situations, Weissert was leaned upon heavily throughout the 2026 campaign. His 3.26 ERA isn’t ugly, but his 3.96 FIP tells a slightly different story. If he finds stability in clutch moments, his role would increase significantly, but until then it seems like he’ll fit in where most fans want him to: low-pressure situations. Justin Slaten faced similar struggles in clutch moments, compiling a 4.60 ERA across 36 games. He struggled with elbow issues all year long, similar to the two prior seasons. He posted a 2.93 ERA in 44 games in 2024, but hasn’t seen the same levels of success since. He occupies a precarious position, but he should pitch in a low-leverage role to start. Alec Gamboa was called up towards the end of the season, and pitched extremely well across 21 outings. He ate up innings to the tune of a 1.91 ERA and will certainly see big league time even if he starts the season back in Triple-A. One of the most intriguing storylines throughout the season was Brayan Bello’s success as a reliever. He pitched the most innings of any Red Sox pitcher out of the bullpen with 63.2, and posted a dominant 1.98 ERA. As a starter, he had an abysmal 10.35 ERA (though he got better later in the year). His role is yet to be determined, but if his form keeps up he would be yet another weapon for Chad Tracy to utilize in the late stages of games. Red Sox's Bullpen Outlook: The Negatives There’s no question about it, the Red Sox have the talent to be the best. But whether or not they can weather age and injury will be key. Slaten has missed significant time over the past three seasons, and Chapman and Guerrero aren’t getting any younger. Guerrero missed the postseason due to shoulder issues, and Whitlock missed time with elbow inflammation as well. Chapman will be 39 when Opening Day rolls around. While he hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down, there is always fear when it comes to aging players, especially one who relies on velocity so heavily. The bullpen got hammered by the New York Yankees in the postseason, giving up an ERA over 20.00 with more innings falling to Moran, Weissert, and the rest of the healthy pen. The aforementioned return of various starters will be helpful, but Boston will need healthy seasons all around. Another reason for concern? The lack of prospects in the pipeline. The minor-league system was severely thinned out after a series of trades. Now, there are four organizational top-20 pitching prospects with a 2027 ETA: John Holobetz, Eduardo Rivera, Blake Wehunt, and Gage Ziehl. Rivera pitched well in two 2026 MLB appearances, but fell apart in a third. The other three prospects aren’t held in extremely high regard, and it seems unlikely that the Red Sox will turn to any unless there is no other option. Still, the return of established starters will play into Boston’s favor even if the injury bug strikes again. This might not be the best bullpen in baseball, but the Red Sox are poised to keep dominating the late innings with this group. View full article

Even after the trades of Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon, Enddy Azocar, and Harold Rivas, the Boston Red Sox's farm system has some high-end prospects. Franklin Arias, Justin Gonzales, and Franklin Primera are the organization's best, but there are some more under-the-radar candidates that could be primed for a breakout season in 2027. So, let's pick one player from each level of the system who should skyrocket up prospect rankings next year. Triple-A Worcester Red Sox: Gage Ziehl Garrett Whitlock, Caleb Durbin, and Greg Weissert. At one point in their careers, all three of these players were in the New York Yankees' system. Now, all three have turned into big-time contributors for the Red Sox. The next former Yankee to find success with the Red Sox could very well be Gage Ziehl. Ziehl was drafted by New York in 2024 before being moved to the Chicago White Sox for Austin Slater a year later. The following offseason, the Red Sox acquired him in the Jordan Hicks deal. Ziehl started the 2026 season in Portland, earning a promotion to Worcester with a month left in the season. His 4.33 ERA in 17 starts with the Sea Dogs is nothing to write home about, but his underlying metrics tell a slightly different story. In his Double-A stint, his xFIP was 3.56, compared to a FIP of 4.17. His stats with Worcester are similar. His 4.02 xFIP over eight starts is 49 points lower than the actual results, suggesting that Ziehl is due for some positive regression in the near future. He has a regular five-pitch arsenal, relying on his cutter and sweeper the most. He does a good job pounding the zone, but his velocity will need work if he wants to reach a higher ceiling. His fastball sat at just 91-94 mph and while he can generate whiffs, he's certainly not elite in that regard. Luckily for him, he’s in the right place. With recent success stories like Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, and Jake Bennett, the Red Sox pitching team has a track record of success with young pitchers. Ziehl is still only 23 years old, and with another year of development in the organization, he can emerge as valuable pitching depth. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs: Jack Winnay When you think of the Red Sox Double-A prospects, Jack Winnay doesn’t immediately jump out. But he should. The 2025 13th-round draftee out of Wake Forest struggled in High-A to start his first full professional season, but found his stride and made a successful jump up to Double-A later in the season. He has above-average raw power, exemplified by his 35 home runs in his final two seasons at Wake Forest, but he struggled to display it during his first season with Low-A Salem. But in 2026, he added 3-4 mph to his exit velocities and started to showcase his pop. Winnay hit just .197 through the month of April, but he shook off the rough start. He earned a call-up to Portland by mid-June after compiling 11 home runs and a .891 OPS through 56 games. In addition, his plate discipline is excellent. He makes good swing decisions and isn’t afraid to take. He drew 53 walks in 188 at-bats in High-A. Comparatively, he struck out 51 times in the same stretch. The jump to Double-A was well-deserved, and Winnay hardly missed a beat. In 45 games, he hit .268 with a .804 OPS. His walk rate suffered slightly, but that’s to be expected with better pitching. He hit five fewer home runs than he did in High-A but also struck out less. With a full season facing better pitching and more time to fully unlock his raw power, Winnay projects as one of the Red Sox's most underrated hitting prospects heading into the offseason. High-A Greenville Drive: Antonio Anderson The Red Sox's third-round draft pick in 2023, Anderson was written off after two disastrous seasons to start his professional career. But Anderson didn’t write back. He hit .186 in 108 games in his first full season with Low-A Salem, compiling a measly .581 OPS from both sides of the plate. His 2025 campaign marked some improvements, as he hit .345 in 22 games with Salem before earning a call-up to Greenville. Then he came back down to earth, hitting .212 with the Drive. His OPS tumbled accordingly, from .924 to .569. But heading into 2026, Anderson made some adjustments. He simplified his swing, and the results were resounding. “Just having more of a simple swing, not doing too much with my hands and lower half—straight back, straight to the ball,” Anderson told MLB.com. He set career highs across the stat sheet, hitting nine homers, driving in 46 runs, and tallying 131 bases. Additionally, he led the Red Sox organization in opposite-field rate going the other way 35% of the time. His .826 OPS and .273 average were career highs, and he finally began to showcase the skills that made him a coveted draft prospect. His career-best season has translated into a torrid start in the Arizona Fall League as well. In 13 games, Anderson is hitting .333 and has drawn 12 walks. He also has two home runs, including a 115.2-mph grand slam. While Anderson’s 2026 campaign could be considered a breakout, he’s got more in the tank and will be a fun player to watch in 2027. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks: Kleyver Salazar Kleyver Salazar isn’t as well known as Salem’s other catcher, Franklin Primera, but he is one of the most intriguing players at the Low-A level in his own right. Signed out of Venezuela in 2023, Salazar’s first season with Salem wasn’t outstanding; in fact, it wasn’t even good. Four home runs and a .215 batting average are discouraging, and a 20.3% strikeout rate alongside a .603 OPS are just cherries on top. The expectations for Salazar’s second season were low, but he went above and beyond. He improved across the board, tripling his home run total with 12 and hitting .293. His OPS jumped to .882, and he cut his K% to 16.5% while drawing 60 walks. His underlying metrics further support the improvements; his BABIP jumped from .269 to .328, and his isolated power metric improved from .061 to .186. His defense is also rock-solid. He has a strong arm and displays good movement behind the dish. While Primera is one of the Red Sox’s most-hyped prospects and will get preferential treatment behind the plate, Salazar shouldn’t slip through the cracks. If he can keep his momentum into 2027, or even improve on it, a call-up to High-A Greenville isn’t too far away. View full article

Jarren Duran’s career has been equal parts exciting and frustrating. He’s a polarizing player who’s shown flashes of All-Star and even MVP upside, but has struggled to find consistency since a breakout 2024 season. Remember, Duran was ranked as the Red Sox’s fourth-best prospect ahead of the 2021 season and made his debut in mid-July. He finished the season appearing in 33 contests and compiled a .215 average and an unsightly .578 OPS. Then, his 2022 campaign wasn’t much better. He accrued a .221 average and drove in just 17 runs across 58 games, good for a .645 OPS. But in late July, he was subject to scrutiny after a 28-5 blowout loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. In the third inning, Jays outfielder Raimel Tapia hit a routine fly ball to center field with the bases loaded, but Duran lost the ball in the lights. The ball dropped well behind Duran, and he lazily walked toward the warning track as Tapia headed for home, recording a little league grand slam. He was heavily criticized for his apparent lack of effort and poor stats, which had a serious impact on his mental health. In the 2025 Netflix series “The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox,” Duran revealed that he had dealt with bouts of suicidal ideation to the increased pressure of his early-career struggles. But, against all odds, Duran rebounded. After posting a negative WAR in his first two seasons, he posted a 2.2 mark in 2023, playing in 102 games. He hit .295 with a .828 OPS, putting his woes behind him and cementing himself in the Red Sox lineup. In 2024, he improved again, accumulating 9.0 WAR, a .285 average, and league-leading marks with 48 doubles, and 14 triples. Duran was named an All-Star, and earned All-Star MVP honors for a two-run go-ahead homer. After a slight step back in 2025, it all came crashing down in 2026. His 0.4 WAR and a .207 average did little to help Duran escape more public ire. Yet, he still turned in a 20-20 campaign, albeit one of the worst ever. He occupies a precarious position within the Red Sox organization. His value has never been lower, yet the fan base wants him gone. A recurring outfield logjam has put a wrench in his ability to secure a regular position, and his role in the franchise seems murky at best. Duran can compete with the game’s best, but after 2026, he looks far from it. His tenure with the Red Sox has been highly complicated and spanned many chapters, but now, it seems like the team could be better off moving him. His lack of a consistent position and $11.1 million projected salary are major reasons why he could be a non-tender candidate. Jarren Duran's Arbitration Summary Age on Opening Day 2027: 30 Service time: 4 years, 155 days 2021 Salary: $187,087 2022 Salary: $303,834 2023 Salary: $720,000 2024 Salary: $760,000 2025 Salary: $3.85 million 2026 Salary: $7.7 million 2027 Salary (Projection): $11.1 million Red Sox OF Depth Roman Anthony – MLB Ceddanne Rafaela – MLB Wilyer Abreu – MLB Masataka Yoshida – MLB Jahmai Jones – MLB Eli White – MLB Kristian Campbell – Triple-A Why the Red Sox Should Tender Duran A Contract Duran has immense upside, and while his $11.1 million price tag is steep for a performance like last season's, he has the potential to be a much better player. His 20-20 campaign lacked substance, but he still possesses the type of power and speed that the Red Sox are somewhat desperate for. From a positional standpoint, it would be a hard decision to bench someone owed $11.1 million, but he doesn’t have a clear path to playing time in the outfield. He stepped up when the oft-injured Roman Anthony went down, but his performance was middling at best. He can be a formidable DH option should the Red Sox not get a better bat, but that deprives him of some of his innate value as a fielder. The San Diego Padres have shown a continued interest in Duran, at one point offering top prospect Ethan Salas and Dylan Cease. If Duran is tendered a contract, and he plays well leading up to the 2027 deadline, there could be renewed interest in a trade that would seem to make sense for both sides. Why the Red Sox Should Non-tender Duran The Red Sox desperately need power, and while Duran’s 20 homers are somewhat attractive, the trade-off could be too great. Roman Anthony will be back in the fold, and it would be utter mismanagement to start Duran over Anthony. Even if he has a lineup spot, Duran’s .207 average is hard to stomach from either the outfield or the DH slot. Even harder to stomach? $11.1 million for a bench player. Not to mention, the Red Sox have Kristian Campbell ready and waiting in Triple-A. After a successful latter half of 2026 in Triple-A, Campbell could be a serious candidate for promotion, especially given Duran’s struggles. Duran has the tools to be successful, and he’s proven as much in the past, but the Red Sox need consistent production from the jump, and that’s something the 30-year-old may not be able to offer. If the outfield is fully healthy and the organization manages to fill the void at DH, Duran won’t have a consistent position and it’s hard to justify his projected salary for a bench piece. Prediction Duran’s case is a tricky one. The Red Sox have seemingly held onto the belief that he can return to his 2024 form or even improve on it. But the fanbase is tired of his recent struggles. That frustration is compounded when the team's own up-and-down tendencies are considered, most of which cannot be fixed by one outfielder. However, it seems unlikely that Duran isn’t on the Red Sox roster come Opening Day 2027, whenever that may be. It would be hard for the Red Sox to let go of a player who’s proven he can produce at an All-Star level, but time is ticking for the former top prospect to turn around his struggles. View full article

It’s impossible to talk about Triston Casas without mentioning injuries. Boston’s first-round pick in 2018 and a once-highly touted prospect, Casas has largely faded into the background of the Red Sox organization. It’s not without reason. He has played just one full season since his debut, and with last season’s emergence of Willson Contreras as the team’s primary first baseman and most prominent power bat, it’s hard to see where Casas fits. But when Casas has played, he’s displayed the power he advertised as a prospect, and has been a productive hitter. He debuted in 2022, earning a late-season call-up. He played in 27 games, and while his .197 average doesn’t scream success, he had flashes of brilliance. Five home runs, 12 RBIs and a .766 OPS isn’t too shabby for his first month of MLB action. He played 132 games in 2023, compiling an impressive first full season and finishing with 24 homers, good for second on the team. He tallied 113 hits and a solid .263 average to go alongside a .856 OPS. There was plenty of reason to be optimistic and believe that the Red Sox had finally found their first baseman, a position in limbo since Kevin Youkilis in the late 2000s. After an excellent start to 2024, that hope came crashing down when he suffered torn rib cartilage. He returned in late August and finished with a respectable line given his 99 missed games. He hit 13 homers and drove in 32 runs to the tune of a .241 batting average and a .800 OPS. But after the late-season return, Casas struggled to get back on the field. It took just 29 games in 2025 for him to suffer another injury, this one a ruptured left patellar tendon that took him out for the rest of the season. In April 2026, disaster struck again. While rehabbing his knee, Casas suffered an abdominal/intercostal strain that landed him on the 60-day IL. He ramped up his recovery, but in July underwent arthroscopic surgery for a left wrist injury, which sidelined him for the season. His luckless career has been derailed by near-constant injuries, but Casas is expected to return to the field sometime in 2027. However, his position has been filled by Contreras, and it remains to be seen if Casas will be able to return to his 2023 level of production. If he can, Boston would greatly benefit from having another consistent bat to deploy at DH or off the bench. Triston Casas' Arbitration Summary Age on Opening Day 2027: 27 Service time: 4 years, 32 days 2022 Salary: $199,226 2023 Salary: $732,500 2024 Salary: $760,000 2025 Salary: $774,000 2026 Salary: $1,610,000 2027 Salary (Projection): $1.7 million Red Sox 1B Depth: Willson Contreras – MLB Mickey Gasper – MLB/Triple-A Nick Sogard – Triple-A Why the Red Sox Should Tender Casas A Contract Casas is only making $1.7 million this season, a drop in the bucket for the Red Sox's payroll And let’s not forget that Casas was a real threat in 2023. He’s cheap, he can produce, and there’s little pressure for him to come back like there was before Boston acquired Contreras. This past season proved that the organization need some more thump in the lineup, and there’s a lack of true power on the open market this offseason. Casas can fit that mold, and with Contreras entering his age-35 season, Casas could still be a first base option if he can return to form. Why the Red Sox Should Non-Tender Casas Let’s face it: Casas can’t stay on the field, and even if he’s able to, Boston has found its first baseman in Contreras. Casas' strikeout rate has never dipped below 24.1%, and by the time he’s fit to play, it’ll have been four years since his last full season. It’s discouraging to say the least, and that isn’t considering another freak injury that he’s prone to. With his cheap contract and decent upside, Casas could be a trade chip should the Red Sox look to close the book on his injury-filled tenure without going down the non-tender path. Prediction There’s no real downside to tendering Casas a contract, other than him continuing to occupy a 40-man roster spot, especially given the incredibly cheap price tag. If, and it feels like a big if, he can return to his 2023 form, he can be a real weapon off the bench for a team that is searching for power wherever it can be found. There’s little expectation for him to return to that form, of course, and he’ll benefit from having the space to rehab with such little pressure. In the event that he can’t return to form, the Red Sox will only be $1.7 million in the hole and can cut him with little repercussion. Perhaps this is the nostalgia talking, but the Red Sox should tender him a contract. The upside is there, and the price is too low to pass up. View full article

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap (September 19) Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series vs. Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays): 3-2 Season Record: 76-67 The WooSox couldn’t replicate their offensive prowess from Friday, falling in an extra-innings battle 4-3. Gage Ziehl made the final start of his first season in the Red Sox organization, turning in a solid six-frame appearance. He allowed a pair of runs (one unearned) on four hits as he issued a walk. He struck out three before Tanner Houck took over. Houck was making his fourth rehab appearance of the season in search of a postseason call-up. He was solid through the first three innings of his outing, but let up the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth. He let up two runs (one unearned) on two hits and struck out a pair in the 3⅓ inning relief appearance as he earned the loss. Sam McWilliams entered for the final two outs of the tenth, letting up a hit but striking out two. After a Friday night onslaught that featured a little bit of offense from everyone, the WooSox were entirely reliant on Franklin Arias on Saturday evening. Arias didn’t disappoint with three RBIs on a pair of hits, but he had no run support from the rest of the lineup. He gave the WooSox a one-run lead in the third, drilling his sixth Triple-A homer of the season to left field as Braiden Ward crossed home. In the fifth, Arias would give the WooSox the lead again. He scored Nathan Hickey on a single as Ward advanced to third. With a chance to walk it off in the ninth, Arias pulled a ball that looked good off his bat, but it would eventually fly foul to the dismay of the Polar Park patrons. Arias couldn’t do it all himself, as evidenced by the close loss. View full article

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series vs. Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays): 3-1 Season Record: 76-66 Strong performances on both sides of the ball were the key as Worcester trounced Durham 16-1 amid a playoff push. Michael Sansone lasted just 3⅔ innings his last time out, surrendering six runs in a loss. On Friday, Sansone erased any bad memories, spinning an outstanding six-frame outing. He allowed one run on one hit, striking out five as he shut down the Bulls. Devin Sweet took over in the seventh, following in strong fashion. He walked one and struck out another in an inning of hitless relief. Angel Bastardo followed Sweet with a similar line, walking one as he too stumped Durham. Osvaldo Berrios was called up for the final frame on Friday, but he couldn’t keep up the bullpen’s hitless day. He allowed two hits and struck out a pair, sealing an easy win for Worcester. Allan Castro was responsible for nearly half of Worcester's offense on Friday. His seven RBIs tied the WooSox single-game record. Amid rumors of a late-season call-up, Braiden Ward made his case on Friday evening with a record-tying performance of his own. The speedster went 5-for-5 with three RBIs, tying the WooSox record with five runs in the win. The pair got started early as Castro tagged a double to left field, scoring Ward. With Castro and Mikey Romero aboard, Nathan Hickey launched his eighth homer of the season to right field. An inning later, Franklin Arias built on the early lead with a single to right, scoring Max Ferguson. Just like the inning prior, Castro drove in Ward, this time on a sac fly to center. Arias would then come around on a Romy Gonzalez double. With a seven-run lead in the third inning, the WooSox didn’t slow down. Ward scored Nate Baez with a single before Arias drove in Ferguson on a groundout. To cap off the inning, Castro drove in Ward for the third consecutive inning, this time on a homer to left. In the fifth, Ward decided it was his turn to go deep. He hit a solo homer to right, bringing the WooSox total to 13. With the bases loaded in the seventh, who else would step to the plate but Castro. He put a bow on the blowout with a bases-clearing double, scoring Ward, Tsung-Che Cheng and Juan Montero. If the WooSox want to make the playoffs, they will need to win both of their final games and need Syracuse, Rochester, and Indianapolis to lose their last games. Worcester will also need Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to lose one of their final two. View full article

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies): 3-3 Season Record: 73-65 The WooSox salvaged a series split behind a clutch ninth inning, winning 8-7. Gage Ziehl took the bump in Sunday’s series finale, but struggled towards the end of a 5⅔ inning appearance. He was scoreless through three, but then disaster struck. He let up four runs on five hits, but displayed excellent control. He didn’t issue a walk, a trend that would continue throughout Sunday’s outing from the WooSox staff. He struck out eight before Noah Song took the final out of the sixth frame. Song struggled, allowing two runs on two hits in the abbreviated outing. Tyler Samaniego got the call next, allowing one more run on two hits as he struck out one. Sam McWilliams took the final two frames of Sunday’s contest in perfect fashion, striking out a pair. The WooSox bats were on fire, with all but one batter recording a hit. Allan Castro’s two-homer performance paved the way for the win. Four players, Castro, Vinny Capra, Franklin Arias, and Tsung-Che Cheng, recorded multi-hit games. Cheng got the WooSox started with a two-run shot in the second inning, his eighth of the year, as Mikey Romero crossed home. An inning later, Capra launched a homer of his own, giving Worcester a three-run lead. But the WooSox weren’t done. One batter later, Arias crushed a ball to deep left center as the lead grew. Arias’s homer flew 439 feet as the top prospect quelled any doubts about a lack of power. In the fourth, Max Ferguson scored Cheng on a soft single to short. After letting up six unanswered runs, Castro responded with his first homer of the night, tying the ball game with a deep drive to right center. After Leigh retook the lead, Castro played hero once more. His second homer of the game, this time with Capra aboard, gave Worcester a one-run lead in the top of the ninth that proved to be the difference. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets): 4-1 Season Record: 71-65 Portland’s final game of the season was cancelled due to inclement weather. View full article