Ben Lofy

Sunday was an eventful day down on the farm for the Boston Red Sox. Let's take a look at all that happened. Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series vs. Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 5-1 Season Record: 32-28 Excellent relief efforts helped Worcester win their fourth straight game by a score of 5-3. Michael Sansone spun one of his best starts all season on Sunday. He went five innings and allowed four hits and two runs, the lowest number of runs he’s allowed in a start since April 19. Additionally, Sansone K’d five batters, his highest mark in over a month. Osvaldo Berrios took the sixth inning, allowing two walks but escaped unscathed. Seth Martinez pitched the seventh inning, allowing one run before turning the ball over to Kyle Keller. Keller allowed one hit in the eighth before Wyatt Olds closed the game in the ninth. Olds allowed a walk but struck out the other three batters he faced as he sealed Worcester’s fifth win in six days. Matt Lloyd led the WooSox offense with two RBIs while Braiden Ward tallied two hits. Worcester struck quickly as Nate Eaton singled with men on the corners. Ward scored as the WooSox took an early lead. Matt Lloyd extended the lead to three with a two-RBI single later in the first, scoring Eaton and Vinny Capra. Capra didn’t wait long before adding an RBI of his own, scoring Tyler McDonough on a sac fly in the second. Ward added the final run of Worcester’s afternoon in the fourth with a double to right field, scoring Tsung-Che Cheng. From there the bullpen took care of business as they locked down the victory. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies): 3-3 Season Record: 29-27 Portland snapped their three-game skid with a 3-1 win behind a monster home run from Brooks Brannon. Gage Ziehl threw an excellent game and earned the win, allowing just one run over a six inning start. He let up five hits and one walk, but punched out a season-best eight batters. Max Carlson threw two superb innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three more batters. Reidis Sena earned his fifth save of the year as he shutout Hartford in the ninth. He allowed one hit and one walk as he lowered his ERA to 3.72. Before Brannon’s blast, Portland’s offense found life in Ronald Rosario and Ahbram Liendo. Rosario hit his third homer of the year in the fourth, tying the game at one run apiece. In the fifth, Ahbram Liendo drove in his tenth RBI in the past three games. He scored Nelly Taylor on a slow grounder to third. In the eighth, Brannon put an exclamation point on the day. He swung on and absolutely crushed a low pitch to the fences. The ball rocketed off his bat, clocking in at 115 MPH and travelling an astonishing 464ft. Brannon wasn’t done with his highlight reel day, however. In the ninth, Franklin Arias beat out a ground ball headed for the outfield, slinging it over to Brannon at first and making the play. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Rome Emperors (Atlanta Braves): 2-3 Season Record: 22-32 Greenville’s series finale was cancelled due to rain. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series @ Wilson War Birds (Milwaukee Brewers): 1-5 Season Record: 24-33 Salem fell for the fifth time in six days behind a struggling pitching staff. Cole Tolbert started Sunday’s contest, but didn’t last long. The 23-year-old let up four runs (one unearned) on four hits and two walks over just an inning and ⅓. Yermain Ruiz pitched the next three and ⅔ innings and got the loss for his efforts. He let up two more runs (one unearned) on three hits. He did strike out five, however, as his ERA rose to just 2.45 over six appearances. Devin Gartrell entered for the sixth inning and promptly allowed three more runs to cross home. Wuilliams Rodriguez was the final RidgeYak to pitch as he closed the loss. He allowed two more runs as he punched out three. Despite the loss, Salem fought hard. The RidgeYaks put up seven RBIs on nine hits as they drew a collective five walks. Kleyver Salazar led the way with four RBIs as Avinson Pinto contributed three of his own. It didn't take long for Salem to score. In the first, Andrews Opata scored on a passed ball. Later, Salazar crossed home on a Pinto ground out. Skylar King added another run as he scored on a wild pitch. Pinto added his second RBI with his third homer of the season, tying the game at 4-4. Pinto then tripled in the fifth, tying Salazar as he tied the game once again. Down by six runs in the eighth, Salazar clobbered a grand slam to left center to put the RidgeYaks within reach. Ultimately, Salem fell just short as they lost yet again. View full article

Let's take a look at everything happened down on the farm on Saturday. Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series vs. Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 4-1 Season Record: 31-28 Worcester won for the third straight night behind a big sixth inning. Eduardo Rivera was almost perfect in his two-inning starting effort. He allowed one baserunner on a walk and struck out two more as he lowered his ERA to 3.04. Garrett Whitlock made a one-inning rehab stint next, allowing a hit and two walks as he began to work back to his big league return. Things began to unravel for the WooSox as Noah Song entered the game. Song allowed two runs on five hits across two innings, but prevented any further damage. Jacob Webb took the next two innings, allowing one more run on one hit as he K’d three. Webb earned the win despite getting a blown save. Angel Bastardo closed the game with a two-inning appearance. He allowed one more run but sealed the game with his efforts. The WooSox momentum carried over from Friday’s offensive success to Saturday. Allan Castro and Tyler McDonough led the team with two RBIs apiece. McDonough has been on fire recently and he bumped his batting average up to .375 on Saturday with a 1-for-2 performance. It was Matt Thaiss who opened up the scoring for Worcester, doubling in the second and driving in Tsung-Che Cheng. Thaiss then crossed home on a Vinny Capra double later in the first frame. Despite his success in getting on base, McDonough isn’t known for his power stroke. However, in the second inning, he hit his first homer of the year, adding to the lead. With the game tied in the sixth, the WooSox poured on four runs to put the game out of reach. Castro doubled to left field, scoring Thaiss and Capra. Capra was then driven home on a sac fly from McDonough. Braiden Ward joined the party with a soft single to left, advancing to second as he drove in Nathan Hickey. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies): 2-3 Season Record: 28-27 Portland fell 10-8 behind shaky pitching despite five RBIs from Ahbram Liendo Despite a solid start to the season, Jedixson Paez has run into trouble as of late. The recent struggles continued on Saturday, though he showed signs of improvement. Over 3 ⅔ frames of work, Paez allowed three hits and two runs. However, he didn’t allow a walk and struck out five batters. The Sea Dogs staff really fell apart when Caleb Bolden took the mound in the fourth. Over the next one and ⅔ innings Bolden allowed five runs on four hits before Erik Rivera took over. Rivera couldn’t keep the Yard Goats in check, letting up another three runs (one unearned) on three hits before turning the ball over to Cade Feeney. Feeney put together the best outing for Portland’s staff, allowing two more hits as he finished the game. After driving in four runs during Friday’s contest, Liendo’s hot streak continued as he drove in five more on Saturday. With the bases loaded in the second, Liendo hit a high fly ball to shallow center field that dropped in. He turned a routine pop-out into a double as the ball got behind the center fielder, racing around first and getting into second with ease. Facing a seven-run deficit in the sixth, Liendo struck again. He drove in Nelly Taylor on a sac fly and advanced Miguel Bleis to third. Bleis scored later in the inning on a sac fly from Marvin Alcantara that cut the lead to five. Liendo struck yet again in the eighth, driving in Bleis on an RBI single. Caden Rose, who advanced to third on the single, scored on a pickoff attempt as Portland slowly closed the gap. Nate Baez then drove Liendo in on a single as the Sea Dogs brought themselves within two. It wasn’t enough, however, as the offense stalled in the ninth. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Rome Emperors (Atlanta Braves): 2-3 Season Record: 22-32 Greenville got back into the win column behind another dominant outing from Kyson Witherspoon. Witherspoon earned the first win of his professional career as he continued to build back from a disappointing start to the season. Over 5 ⅓ innings, the longest start of his career so far, Witherspoon allowed four hits and just one run. He sent six batters back to the dugout on strikes as he again showed flashes of his high upside. P.J. Labriola took the next two innings, allowing one more run and striking out three more before turning the ball over to Matt McShane. McShane closed out the final inning and change, allowing two more runs on four hits. He struck out three as he sealed the win for the Drive. Three players had multi-hit games for the Drive’s offense as they wreaked havoc on the basepaths. In the third inning, Jack Winnay hit his tenth homer of the season to tie the game 1-1. Not to be outdone, Mason White then stepped to the plate and hit his tenth of the year as the pair went back-to-back. In the fourth, Luke Heyman drove in Yoeilin Cespedes on a double play. In the seventh, Isaiah Jackson stole third and advanced home on a throwing error as Winnay advanced to second. Ronny Hernandez then joined the home run party, hitting his fourth of the year and establishing a five-run lead. To add some cushion, Enddy Azocar drove in White on a single to bring the final score to 7-4. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series @ Wilson War Birds (Milwaukee Brewers): 1-4 Season Record: 24-32 Salem’s struggles continued on Saturday as they struggled to convert ten hits into runs. Jacob Mayers put together another impressive stat line as he sports a 2.51 season ERA. Over three and ⅔ innings, Mayers allowed two runs on as many hits, striking out six. Christian Foutch took over next, throwing 2 ⅔ innings of no-hit ball. He allowed four walks however, but he struck out three. Nicolas De La Cruz took the mound in the seventh and posted an identical stat line to Foutch, four walks and three strikeouts while allowing no hits. Drew Allmer looked to play the hero as Salem’s offense took the lead in the tenth. However, Allmer fell short. He allowed two singles as Wilson walked it off in the tenth. Andruw Musett recorded the first three-hit game of his season as three others had multiple hits. However, the RidgeYaks fell short when it came time to drive runs in, going 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine. Musett put Salem on the board with an RBI single in the first inning. He followed that up with another single, this one to tie the game in the eighth inning. He scored Andrews Opata both times. In the tenth, Stanley Tucker grabbed the lead with a sac fly that scored Starlyn Nunez. Despite the RidgeYaks finding some late life, it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat. View full article

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series vs. Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 3-1 Season Record: 30-28 Tsung-Che Cheng lifted the WooSox to a 6-3 victory as they grabbed the series win. Patrick Sandoval made a rehab appearance on Friday as he opened the game for Worcester. He pitched one and ⅓ innings of no-hit ball as he continues to build back from 2024 surgery. Raymond Burgos made a bulk relief appearance following Sandoval’s stint, turning in four and ⅔ frames of work. Burgos got the win as he allowed one run on three hits and three walks. Kyle Keller got the ball going into the seventh and was flawless across his inning-long appearance. Zack Kelly took the last two innings, allowing two runs but sealing the win for Worcester. The WooSox bats were hot, even against future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer. Tsung-Che Cheng got to Scherzer first, scoring Max Ferguson and Tyler McDonough on a line drive single to right field. Matt Lloyd struck next for the WooSox, crushing a solo homer in the fourth inning to extend the lead to two. In the fifth, Allan Castro scored two more, Jason Delay and Mikey Romero, on a single as Worcester took control of the game. Cheng added a third RBI in the eighth, scoring Ferguson on another single to right field. Worcester amassed 12 hits in Friday’s game as they took a commanding series lead. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies): 2-2 Season Record: 28-26 Portland fell as the bullpen collapsed, allowing six runs in the ninth. Hayden Mullins took the first three innings for Portland, allowing two runs on two hits but sitting five batters down on strikes. He walked three and let up a homer but kept the opposing offense mostly in check. Dalton Rogers took the next four frames and was lights out. He didn’t allow a single hit as he walked three. He struck out three as well as he lowered his ERA to 1.17. Cooper Adams got the ball to start the eighth, getting off to a decent start. However, he fell apart in the ninth inning, allowing five runs before Patrick Halligan took over. Halligan got the loss as he allowed a bases-loaded double that gave Hartford the lead, and eventually, the win. Ahbram Liendo paved the way for Portland’s offense on Friday as he tallied four RBIs on one hit, a grand slam. Liendo crushed his third homer of the season in the sixth inning, scoring Miguel Bleis, Caden Rose, and Will Turner and giving the Sea Dogs a two-run lead. Later in the inning, Nate Baez added to the lead with a two-run single that scored Franklin Arias and Marvin Alcantara. Brooks Brannon capped off the seven-run inning with a double, driving in Baez. The pitching support was rough for Portland to say the least as they fell by one run. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Rome Emperors (Atlanta Braves): 1-3 Season Record: 21-32 Greenville lost in walk-off fashion after a fierce pitching duel. Only three pitchers took the mound for Greenville on Friday as the pitching staff allowed just five hits. Jojo Ingrassia took the first four innings and was dominant. He lowered his season ERA to 1.53 with a six-strikeout performance, allowing just two hits. Joe Vogatsky took the next two frames, allowing two more hits and a walk as he compiled three strikeouts. After a masterful seven combined innings, Steven Brooks looked to save the Drive from a walk-off fate. He failed to do so, however, giving up a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth as Rome took Friday’s contest. Despite six total hits, the Drive went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position as they failed to come up clutch. Mason White drew two walks, but went hitless in two other at-bats. No Greenville hitter had a multi-hit day as they failed to capitalize on prime opportunities to score. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series @ Wilson War Birds (Milwaukee Brewers): 1-3 Season Record: 24-31 Despite holding a lead into the sixth, Salem fell on a walk-off grand slam. Brady Tygart made Friday’s start on a rehab assignment from High-A Greenville. He allowed two earned runs on two walks but no hits. He sent five batters packing via strikeout before turning the ball over to Leighton Finley in the third inning. Finley pitched into the seventh, racking up three strikeouts. He allowed two runs on five walks and four hits but minimized potential damage. Adam Bates took the next two and ⅔ innings, allowing one more run (unearned) and striking out four batters. In extras, Griffin Kilander looked to stave off the walk-off loss but failed to do so, allowing a walk-off grand slam as he walked two and earned the loss for Salem. The RidgeYaks managed to score seven runs on just four hits as Stanley Tucker crossed home twice. Tucker scored in the third as Salem opened the scoring. He crossed home on a Starlyn Nunez sacrifice fly to grab the lead. Kleyver Salazar and Skylar King each scored in the fourth on two separate passed balls. Later in the inning, Tucker doubled to left field, driving in Louis Andujar. Avinson Pinto then scored on a Givian Sirvania ground out before Tucker scored on yet another passed ball. After a hectic fourth, the RidgeYaks’ offense was quiet as Wilson tied the game. In the tenth, King put Salem in winning position with a single that scored Opata. However, the pitching staff let King down as the RidgeYaks fell in truly heartbreaking fashion. View full article

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Overview 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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Boston Red Sox Farm System Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees): 4-1 Season Record: 27-26 Worcester’s offense was quiet on Saturday as its hot streak was snapped. The game went sideways early on for the WooSox as Raymond Burgos struggled in his start. Over just three and ⅓ innings, Burgos allowed eight hits and two walks as the RailRiders scored five times. Since allowing just one run in his WooSox debut the lefty has struggled, posting an ERA of 8.79 across four starts. Jacob Webb steadied the ship in his one and ⅔ innings of relief. He allowed a hit and struck out two before turning the ball over to Eduardo Rivera. Rivera gave up one more run on two hits in a two inning appearance but maintained a respectable 2.79 ERA. In the final inning of the game, Devin Sweet allowed one more run to cross home as the RailRiders won easily. Sweet allowed two hits and a walk. Worcester's offense struggled to give itself opportunities, tallying only four at bats with runners in scoring position. Tsung-Che Cheng had two hits and Anthony Seigler drew three walks as the pair were the only highlights from Saturday’s game. The WooSox only two runs came late in the game. In the ninth inning, Matt Thaiss drove in Allan Castro and Cheng on a ground ball that snuck through the defense. It was a frustrating game for the WooSox, who had recorded six or more runs in three of their last four contests. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series at Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets): 3-2 Season Record: 25-24 After opening the series 3-0, Portland fell in extras for the second straight game, losing 4-3. Coming off of a flawless three-inning appearance a week ago, Jedixson Paez opened Saturday’s game with high hopes. Unfortunately for the 22-year-old, he was unable to replicate last week's outing. Over four innings, Paez allowed three runs on four hits. He was able to control his command, striking out four and allowing just one walk. Caleb Bolden got the ball going into the fifth and absolutely dominated over the next four frames. He sat down five on strikes and allowed a solo baserunner on a walk. With the game on the line in the bottom of the ninth, Portland turned to Erik Rivera. Rivera walked the first batter he faced before getting his first out on a pop-out. After a wild pitch and another walk, Binghamton had men on first and second. The lead runner stole third and advanced home, winning the game on a throwing error from Johanfran Garcia. Each of Portland’s hitters reached base once through Saturday’s game, but they were unable to muster more than three runs. The Sea Dogs went 2-for-12 with RISP, stranding seven baserunners. Facing an early three-run deficit, Nate Baez put Portland on the board with an RBI groundout in the third that pushed Franklin Arias across home plate. Later in the inning, Garcia drove in Will Turner on a line drive single. One inning later, Ahbram Liendo hit an RBI single of his own, scoring Tyler McDonough. Similar to the game prior, Portland failed to score down the stretch, going silent over the last five innings. High-A Greenville Drive Series vs. Asheville Tourists (Houston Astros): 3-2 Season Record: 19-29 Despite a formidable comeback attempt in the ninth, Greenville fell to ten games below .500. Alex Bouchard started Saturday’s game and it was a disaster from the jump. Over just an inning and ⅔, Bouchard allowed seven runs on seven hits and only struck out one. With two outs in the second, Brandon Neely bailed Bouchard out before turning the ball over to Matt McShane. McShane allowed three more runs (one unearned) on two walks and a hit as Asheville took a commanding lead. Tyler Uberstine entered in the fifth, making his second rehab appearance. He allowed two hits and a walk, but didn’t let the Tourists add to their lead. Osvaldo Berrios took the next two and ⅓ innings and was nearly perfect. He allowed one walk and struck out two before catcher Hudson White made his second pitching appearance in as many days. White allowed one hit but that was all. After a rough start, Greenville’s bullpen turned in a so-so outing. The Drive scored three runs through the first eight innings, but came to life in the ninth. They scored five as they attempted to pull off the improbable upset. Prior to the comeback bid, Enddy Azocar put the Drive on the board as he continues to impress since being called up from Low-A Salem. He drove in Justin Gonzales with a triple in the first, his second triple of the year. Henry Godbout drove in Azocar on a groundout as Greenville nabbed an early lead. In the fourth, Mason White added one more run. He drove in Luke Heyman on a soft ground ball single back to the pitcher. The Drive’s offense surged in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. Antonio Anderson was hit by a pitch, driving in Jack Winnay. Then, Gonzales scored White on a single. Azocar drove in his second run of the day as he was hit by a pitch. With the lead down to four, Anderson scored on a passed ball. With the lead in sight, Yoeilin Cespedes drove in Gonzales on a sac fly. However, the comeback was stymied and Greenville fell for the second night in a row. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series vs. Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers): 2-3 Season Record: 22-28 Salem snapped their three-game skid with a solid 5-1 win. Leighton Finley matched his longest start of the year on Saturday, turning in five frames of work. He allowed six baserunners, four by way of hits and two via walks. Despite the traffic on the basepaths, he held Hickory to just one run and sent seven back to the dugout on strikes. Finley’s lone run was let up on the first, and he settled in nicely afterward. He lowered his ERA to 3.19 with another quality start. Joey Gartrell followed with three excellent innings of his own. He allowed two hits and K’d two in his second appearance since being sent down from High-A Greenville. Drew Allmer capped off the dominant day from Salem’s pitching staff with a perfect inning, closing out the win. It was a successful day on both sides of the ball for Salem as the offense totalled ten hits and five runs. Starlyn Nunez led the way with three hits in four at-bats. He hit a lead-off home run to open the game and put Salem on the board. In the second, Ilan Fernandez drove in Avinson Pinto on a single to give Salem the lead. The RidgeYaks didn’t look back and didn’t relinquish the lead for the rest of the afternoon. In the fourth, Givian Sirvania tacked on another run with a bases loaded single, driving in Adonys Guzman. In the fifth, Nunez hit his second homer of the day to extend the lead to three. Finally, Guzman drove in Nunez on a single in the seventh to put the game out of reach. It was a nice rebound for the RidgeYaks as they’ve struggled as of late. View full article

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees): 4-0 Season Record: 27-25 Worcester extended their winning streak to four, winning 6-5. Michael Sansone opened the game for Worcester still trying to find his feet in Triple-A. The southpaw has bounced between Worcester and Portland a few times this season and has a 6.20 ERA in five starts for the WooSox. On Friday, he let up four runs on six hits across three and ⅔ innings. In addition to the six hits, Sansone walked four as he continued to struggle to find his feet against better opponents. Across two and ⅓ innings of relief, Noah Song struck out two. He allowed one baserunner on a walk, but was otherwise dominant. It was an encouraging sign from the 29-year-old who has seen his fair share of struggles this season. Zack Kelly made his second appearance since being optioned from the big league club last week. Despite blowing a save on Friday, he earned the win for two innings of work. He let up one run on two hits. Finally, Tommy Kahnle pitched a flawless ninth inning, lowering his ERA to 1.40 and sealing the win for Worcester. The WooSox bats were lively as they faced a familiar face in Elmer Rodriguez. Mikey Romero and Nathan Hickey led the way with two RBIs apiece, as Nate Eaton and Allan Castro totalled two hits each. Down by one run in the third, Eaton scored from first on a fielder’s choice. Just one batter later Romero mashed an opposite field two-run homer, scoring Vinny Capra and taking a two-run lead. Nathan Hickey joined in on the fun in the fourth, singling on a ground ball as Tsung-Che Cheng and Matt Lloyd scored. With the game tied in the top of the eighth, Jason Delay hit a ground ball single to left field, scoring Castro from third. Delay’s single proved to be the difference in a close game as Worcester clinched the series. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series at Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets): 3-1 Season Record: 25-23 The Sea Dogs four-game hot streak was snapped as they fell 5-4 in extras. Dalton Rogers took the first three innings of Friday evening’s matchup. Rogers struggled with command but was otherwise excellent. He let up one hit but allowed four baserunners via walks. However, he struck out three and lowered his ERA to an impressive 1.42. Cade Feeney took the next three and saw mixed results. He walked just one batter and struck out a season-high five batters. But he allowed four runs on four hits as his ERA rose to 6.85. Portland needed a solid relief outing to follow Feeney, and Reidis Sena delivered. Across another three inning outing he allowed only one baserunner and struck out three as he was nearly perfect. However, it was all in vain when catcher Raudelis Martinez came in to pitch. Martinez was thrust into a high-stakes position for his first career pitching appearance and he couldn't come up clutch. He allowed a walk-off single as Binghamton snapped Portland’s streak. At the dish, Nate Baez came up with a two-run homer and Franklin Arias had two hits. It was Caden Rose who got Portland on the board, however. He slapped a ground ball off of the second baseman’s glove for a single as Nelly Taylor crossed home from second. Down by two runs in the sixth Nate Baez hit a two-run nuke to left center, scoring Marvin Alcantara. Tyler McDonough followed this up with an RBI of his own, driving in Brooks Brannon and snagging the lead. The lead was short-lived however, as Portland failed to score over the last three frames. High-A Greenville Drive Series vs. Asheville Tourists (Houston Astros): 3-1 Season Record: 19-28 Like Portland, Greenville’s winning streak was snapped as they lost by five runs. Greenville depleted their bullpen on Friday as six pitchers made appearances. Jojo Ingrassia made his first appearance in over a month as he started Friday’s game. It was an excellent return as he allowed just one hit and struck out six across two innings. Shea Sprauge followed with an inning of his own, but it was less than ideal. He allowed six runs on just three hits, walking four as his ERA shot to 7.89. As the Drive desperately needed stability from the bullpen, they turned to Danny Kirwin. Unfortunately, Kirwin couldn’t answer. He allowed one more run and three walks over just ⅔ of an inning. The Tourists offense was temporarily cooled as P.J. Labriola came into the game. Across three and ⅓ innings he allowed one more run and two hits, striking out three. However, Labriola couldn't pitch the rest of the game, turning the ball over to Steven Brooks. Over an inning, Brooks allowed two more runs on three hits. Catcher Hudson White pitched the final inning for Greenville, surrendering another three runs before the game concluded. Despite three RBIs from both Mason White and Gerardo Rodriguez, the Drive couldn’t climb back into the game. Enddy Azocar got a hit as well, scoring in the first on a double from Rodriguez who got the scoring started. Later in the first, Mason White clobbered his ninth homer of the year. It was a three-run shot to center, scoring Isaiah Jackson and Rodriguez as the Drive extended their lead. However, by the time the Drive scored again, they faced a six-run deficit. In the eighth, Yoeilin Cespedes scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Yophery Rodriguez drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring Jackson once more. In the bottom of the ninth, G. Rodriguez cut the lead to five with a two-run shot, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the loss. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series vs. Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers): 1-3 Season Record: 21-28 Salem fell by six as their losing streak reached three games. Jose Bello earned his second loss of the year for his four and ⅓ innings on Friday. He let up two runs on just one hit, walking four. He punched out three, but it wasn’t enough to limit the Hickory offense. Adam Bates pitched two and ⅔ innings in relief, allowing another two runs to cross home. He struck out four batters as well. The game got away from Salem as Harry Blum took the mound. His ERA hit 10.02 after his appearance, which was poor to say the least. He allowed five more runs on three hits and three walks over just one frame of work. For the final inning of the night, Griffin Kilander put together a near perfect outing. He allowed one walk as he struck out two. As impressive as it was, it did little to rectify the poor performances that came before him. Despite a two-hit day from D’Angelo Ortiz, the RidgeYaks only totaled one RBI as they struggled at the plate. Salem’s lone RBI came in the fourth on a Skylar King home run to tie the game at 1-1. In the fifth, Salem scored their other two runs. Stanley Tucker stole home as Starlyn Nunez later scored on a passed ball. It was all the offense Salem could muster, however, as they lost by six. View full article

Boston Red Sox Minor League Snapshot Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series vs. Rochester Red Wings (Washington Nationals): 0-5 Season Record: 23-25 Worcester’s game was postponed due to inclement weather in the area. No makeup information has yet been provided. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies): 5-1 Season Record: 22-22 The Sea Dogs fought back to .500 on a walk-off single from Johanfran Garcia. Gage Ziehl started the game for Portland and turned in four and ⅔ frames of so-so work. He allowed two runs to score on three hits, and allowed four baserunners via walk. He did strike out four, however, before he turned the ball over to Patrick Halligan. Halligan took the next three and ⅓ innings and was superb. He allowed one hit and two walks as he matched Ziehl’s strikeout total of four. With the game tied, Cooper Adams got the ball to start the ninth inning. After preventing Reading from scoring in the ninth he took the tenth as well. In total he allowed three hits and one run on a triple in the top of the tenth. He struck out two and was good enough to earn the win in Sunday’s contest. Three players collected multi-hit games on Sunday, including Garcia, Franklin Arias, and Ronald Rosario. It was Rosario who got the offense started in the second inning. Portland struck first on his second home run of the year, a solo blast. Tyler McDonough added to the lead in the fourth inning, scoring Rosario on a triple to right field. The offense then went quiet, allowing Reading to tie the game. Down one run with one out and a man on in the tenth inning, who stepped to the plate but Arias. After knocking two balls out of the park in Saturday's game, Arias took it upon himself to tie Sunday’s game in an important spot. He shot a ball to right field, scoring McDonough as he rounded second and reached third safely on his first triple of the year. With the game all tied up, Garcia stepped up to the plate with two men on. On the first pitch of the at-bat, he looped a soft hit into center field as Will Turner slid into home safely, winning the game for Portland. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles): 1-3 Season Record: 16-26 The Drive’s recent struggles continued to pile up as they dropped both games of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. Kyson Witherspoon put together a solid appearance as he continues to try and find his rhythm in professional ball. Across four and ⅓ innings he gave up one run and two hits, allowing two walks. He punched out six as he kept the Keys largely in check. The game unravelled, however, when Witherspoon turned the ball over to Osvaldo Berrios. Berrios let up two runs on three hits during his one and ⅓ innings of work. He got the loss as he allowed Frederick to eke out the victory. Led by Adonys Guzman and Isaiah Jackson, each of whom had two hits, the Drive’s offense fell just short on Sunday as they failed to capitalize in clutch moments. They went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base. Jackson struck first for the Drive, clobbering his sixth homer of the year as he snagged a one-run lead for Greenville. After the Keys scored three unanswered runs, Gerardo Rodriguez singled in the seventh as the Drive attempted to push the game to extras. Rodriguez drove in Guzman, but the Drive failed to make it happen as they dropped the first game of the afternoon. In the second game of the afternoon, the Drive fell by one run yet again. This time around, Alex Bouchard got the start for Greenville. He spun a solid appearance, allowing two runs on one hit and a walk. He did punch out five batters as he gave the offense room to play. However, that offensive flexibility was stifled by Brandon Neely’s relief appearance. Neely’s season has been less than ideal, he entered Sunday’s game sporting a 15.30 ERA. Through two innings, he allowed four runs (two unearned) on three hits, striking out four. It was enough to lower his ERA to 14.25, but it wasn’t enough to avoid getting the loss. In ⅓ of an inning of relief, Calvin Bickerstaff let up one more hit, but the Keys won in extras on a walk-off single. The Drive’s offense put up similar numbers in the second game of the afternoon. Yophery Rodriguez and Yoeilin Cespedes had two hits each, and Cespedes had two RBIs. He got started in the first inning, launching his ninth homer of the year in the first inning. Yophery Rodriguez reached on fielder’s choice in the sixth, scoring Cespedes and Justin Gonzales as Greenville took a one-run lead. Cespedes kept up his momentum with an RBI single in the eight, driving in Gonzales once more. Mason White tacked on another run with a single later in the inning as Cespedes rounded home. The offense failed to score in extras as the Keys scored three unanswered runs as they walked off both games of the doubleheader. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series @ Hill City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians): 3-3 Season Record: 10-25 Salem cruised to an easy eight-run win in the series finale, splitting the series. Cole Tolbert gave the offense plenty of leeway with his performance over four innings. He punched out four while only allowing three hits and a run. He lowered his ERA to 2.08 over three appearances thus far. Jacob Mayers earned his first win of the season for his relief performance on Sunday afternoon. Mayers allowed one run and walked four, but kept the Howlers offense in check as he struck out two, leaving his ERA at 2.45. He turned the ball over to Griffin Kilander in the eighth. Kilander closed the game strong over one and ⅔ innings, allowing just one hit and sitting down two on strikes as he shut the door and sealed the series split. The offense was also rolling on Sunday, as evidenced by the eight-run victory. Stanley Tucker and Avinson Pinto led the way with two runs apiece. Luke Heyman drove in Ilan Fernandez to put the RidgeYaks on the board in the third inning. It was a monster of an inning for Salem, as more offense ensued. Starlyn Nunez scored on a balk before Pinto doubled, driving in Skylar King. Frederik Jimenez followed this up with a line drive single that was deflected off of the second baseman, scoring Pinto. Then, Tucker smashed his third homer of the season, capping off a seven-run inning as he drove in Jimenez. Jimenez then struck again in the eighth inning, scoring Andruw Musett on a sac fly. Later in the inning, Tucker collected his third RBI of the day with a single that drove in Pinto. Nunez then brought Tucker home on a single to center field, giving Salem its tenth and final run of the day. It was reported Monday evening that Salem's Enddy Azocar and Luke Heyman had been promoted to High-A Greenville following the weekend's action. View full article

Boston Red Sox Farm System Snapshot Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series vs. Rochester Red Wings (Washington Nationals): 0-5 Season Record: 23-25 Worcester’s skid reached five as the WooSox lost 7-5. Michael Sansone got the start, looking to put Worcester back in the win column amid a four-game losing streak. Unfortunately for Sansone, things went downhill early. Over a five and ⅓ inning appearance, Sansone allowed four runs on four hits and a walk, allowing a two-run home run in the first. In the sixth, he turned the ball over to Eduardo Rivera who wasn’t much better. He struck out four, same as Sansone, but allowed another three runs on two hits and three walks. After one and ⅔ innings he was relieved by Noah Song. Song was excellent in his closing position. Executing two hitless innings and K’ing two. Despite a strong backend, it wasn’t enough to keep it close enough for the offense. The offense looked better than it has as of late, totaling ten hits and drawing four walks. In 15 opportunities with runners in scoring position, the WooSox converted four times. Facing a six-run hole in the sixth, Vinny Capra drove in the WooSox first runs of the day on a single, scoring Max Ferguson and Nate Eaton. Mikey Romero added another run in the seventh, scoring Jason Delay on a sac-fly. Later in the inning, Kristian Campbell drove in Nathan Hickey with a single, adding another run. In the eight, Max Ferguson scored Matt Lloyd on a single to center field, marking the final run of the evening for Worcester. Eaton, Campbell, and Lloyd each collected multi-hit games as the offense started to look better. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies): 4-1 Season Record: 21-22 Portland’s four-game win streak came to an end as they lost 7-3. Jedixson Paez put together one of his best outings of the season, pitching three perfect innings to start the game. He K’d four as he lowered his ERA to 4.22. In immediate relief, Dalton Rogers nearly matched Paez. He put together a near-perfect three innings of his own, allowing a walk as he struck out three. However, it all went south for the Sea Dogs when Joe Vogatsky entered the game. Vogatsky was lit up over just ⅔ innings. He allowed five hits and six runs as Reading blew the game open. Finally in damage control, Max Carlson took the mound. He allowed another run as he struck out three to close the game. Two excellent outings from Paez and Rogers were wasted as Vogatsky let the game slip through his fingers. Portland’s offense, including Franklin Arias, was hot despite the lopsided final score. The Sea Dogs had 12 hits, but didn’t draw a walk all game. Additionally, they struggled to drive runners in, going 1-for-7 with RISP and stranding nine runners. The only two runs came early. In the third, Nate Baez got things started with an RBI single to drive in Arias. Arias scored again in the sixth on a single from Tyler McDonough. The bats were ineffective from that point on despite lots of baserunners. Baez had three hits, while Johanfran Garcia and Arias had two apiece. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles): 1-1 Season Record: 16-25 Greenville’s game was cancelled yet again, marking the third straight contest postponed by inclement weather. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series @ Hill City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians): 2-3 Season Record: 19-25 Salem fell short by just one run, losing 5-4 on Saturday evening. Leighton Finley was excellent in his starting appearance. He notched five frames of work, allowing three hits and striking out six opponents. He lowered his ERA to 3.41. Harry Blum couldn’t keep the positive momentum rolling, however. He faltered in his two-inning appearance, allowing four runs (one unearned) on just two hits and three walks. Blum got Saturday’s loss, and Adam Bates got a blown save for his final inning of work. Blum allowed an additional run on two hits and two walks. His ERA rose to a sky-high 10.07 as he continued to struggle to turn his season around. The offense fell just short on Saturday as 17 of the 32 at-bats resulted in a strikeout for Salem. After a six-inning pitching duel, Kleyver Salazar broke the game open with a one-run double to score Starlyn Nunez. After advancing to third on Salazar’s double, Andrews Opata scurried home on a wild pitch to give Salem a two-run advantage. After allowing five unanswered runs, Enddy Azocar came to the plate with two on in the ninth. Looking to shorten the lead, the right-handed Azocar drove in two on an opposite field triple. However, the RidgeYaks failed to capitalize on the prime opportunity to tie the game. View full article

Boston Red Sox Minor League Recap (May 22) Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series vs. Rochester Red Wings (Washington Nationals): 0-4 Season Record: 23-24 After starting the season hot, the WooSox fell below .500 as they lost their fourth straight. It was a woeful day on the mound for the entirety of Worcester’s pitching staff. Jack Anderson started the game and let up six runs off nine hits over just three innings. Seth Martinez took over in the fourth and was only marginally better. He allowed three more runs and walked two despite collecting four strikeouts over two and ⅔ innings. Wyatt Olds took the next inning and ⅓, putting together the best outing of the day. He allowed just one baserunner via a hit, and struck out four more. However, Tommy Kahnle still took over in the eighth despite Olds’ dominance. Kahnle was good, however, allowing three baserunners as he prevented any further damage. To close out the game, Worcester brought in catcher Nathan Hickey, who let up three more runs as Rochester put the game way out of reach. Just like on the mound, Worcester was downright miserable at the plate. The WooSox recorded just three hits and drew six walks. The lone run came on a Braiden Ward single that drove in Max Ferguson in the fifth inning. Worcester never really had a chance to come back as they fell for the seventh time in their last eight contests. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies): 4-0 Season Record: 21-21 Portland won 2-1 as they fought back to .500. John Holobetz has had a mixed bag of recent outings, but he settled in on Friday and pitched six scoreless innings. He lowered his ERA to 4.06 as he struck out six and allowed five hits, recovering from a turbulent start to the month. Caleb Bolden earned a hold for his two innings of relief work. He allowed one run and two hits, but struck out four. To complete the solid day on the bump for Portland, Reidis Sena allowed a walk in his one-inning appearance. He earned the save for his efforts, striking out two of the four batters he faced. Franklin Arias led the way for Portland at the plate with perhaps his best hitting performance so far this season. He led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run, his ninth of the year. Then, in the fifth inning, he hit his second home run of the night and tenth on the year. He made up the entirety of the Sea Dogs offense, collecting three hits as he bumped his average to .341. Overall, Portland was 0-for-7 with RISP and left eight runners on base. In the end, however, it didn’t matter as they eked out the win behind Arias’s outstanding game. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles): 1-1 Season Record: 16-25 Friday’s doubleheader was postponed due to inclement weather. It was the second forced cancellation in a row and makeup information has not yet been provided. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series @ Hill City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians): 2-2 Season Record: 19-24 Following the postponement of Thursday’s game, Salem and Hill City split a doubleheader on Friday. Jason Gilman started the first game of the afternoon for Salem and turned in four and ⅔ innings of great work. He allowed two hits and one unearned run as he stalled the Howlers’ offense. He punched out five batters and walked two. Jay Allmer took the final two and ⅓ innings of the seven inning contest in his first appearance since being demoted from High-A Greenville. He spun an excellent outing, allowing a hit and a walk but striking out three and slamming the door on any sort of comeback effort. It was a slow game for Salem at the plate. The RidgeYaks reached base only eight times and went 1-for-6 with RISP. However, they were able to prevail behind the efforts of Givian Sirvania who made his first start since being activated from the FCL Red Sox. He helped Salem take the lead early with a two-RBI double in the second inning. In the seventh inning, with a one-run edge, Avinson Pinto put the game away with his second homer of the season. In the second game of the day, Jose Bello put together an excellent start of his own. He lowered his season ERA to 2.82, allowing three hits and one unearned run through five and ⅔ innings. He K’d three and allowed one walk. Nicolas De La Cruz started the seventh inning with the game tied 1-1. Despite sitting down five on strikes, he allowed five walks as he struggled with command. In the eighth, Hill City walked off Salem with a bases loaded single to split the doubleheader. It was an even slower second game for Salem at the dish. They recorded just seven baserunners this time around and went an abysmal 0-for-8 with RISP. The lone run game on a Skylar King groundout with men on the corners and no outs. Kleyver Salazar and Stanley Tucker each recorded two hits, but the rest of the team was silent in the hits column. View full article

Last season, the Boston Red Sox sent three players to the All-Star game in Atlanta. Now, after some departures in free agency and early season battles with injuries, there could be a new group of faces representing the team in the 2026 Midsummer Classic. Let's look at three players worthy of All-Star honors for the first time in 2026 (with a quick nod to a few other candidates on the roster). Honorable Mentions: Justin Slaten: While Slaten has missed time due to injury, when he’s healthy, he completes the Red Sox's borderline unstoppable trio featuring himself, Garrett Whitlock, and Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen. A premier set-up pitcher, Slaten has given up four hits in six innings this season and has a 0.00 ERA. If he can bounce back from injury and continue to pitch well over the next two months, Slaten could sneak into the All-Star game roster as a potential injury replacement. Connelly Early: Another young stud, Early leads the team in innings pitched and made the Opening Day roster after only pitching in four games last season. He has a 3.21 ERA this season over nine starts. The other half of a young one-two left-handed punch alongside Payton Tolle, Early is a definite All-Star candidate if he keeps up his stellar season. Wilyer Abreu Through the first part of the season, Wilyer Abreu has shown why he’s one of the best right fielders in baseball. He leads all right fielders in defensive runs saved, an incredible asset for a team built on run prevention. He ranks second among all outfielders in that category, trailing only defensive superhero Pete Crow-Armstrong. His strengths don’t just come in the field: he is also the Red Sox's best hitter. As of their series with the Kansas City Royals, he leads the team in WAR, batting average, runs, and OPS. Additionally, he is second in home runs behind Willson Contreras. Abreu’s biggest weakness last season was his stats against left-handed pitching; in just 61 at-bats against lefties, he recorded the same number of hits (14) as he did strikeouts. He hit just .230 with a .299 on base percentage. In contrast, he had 312 at-bats against righties, sporting a .250 average with 78 hits and 21 homers. However, Abreu has completely flipped the script in 2026. He’s hitting .380 with 19 hits and four home runs through 50 at-bats against southpaws. Against righties, he’s hitting .267 in 120 at-bats. His newfound success against lefties has played a pivotal role in his overall success this season and will almost certainly lead to him appearing in the All-Star Game come July. Ceddanne Rafaela To the left of Abreu in the outfield is another intriguing All-Star hopeful. Ceddanne Rafaela is coming off of a Gold Glove season of his own and seems to have overcome some of his struggles at the plate. After splitting time between second base and center field last season, it seems as though Rafaela has settled into a regular role in center. It’s an intriguing development in the outfield logjam saga and worth noting because it forces Jarren Duran to left field, a space occupied by Roman Anthony when healthy. Whether this sets the stage for an eventual Duran trade is unclear, but what’s certain is the fact that Rafaela has become an invaluable piece of the Red Sox. Known for his defensive prowess, Rafaela has put together 362.1 innings of error-less play and has a fielding run value of five. He sits in the 99th percentile for outs above average, routinely running down tough fly balls with ease. Contrary to his defensive success, his bat has been hot and cold throughout his career, but that script is flipping in 2026. Through 44 games, Rafaela is hitting .284 with 42 hits, the best batting average mark of his career. He also has a .354 on base percentage, 50 points higher than last season. Known for his speed and contact ability, Rafaela’s tied for seventh in the league with two triples. Additionally, he’s already driven in 19 RBIs and is on pace to drive in 67, which would eclipse his personal best. While plate discipline isn’t his strong suit, Rafaela has been more patient this season, drawing ten walks. His 1.5 WAR ranks third on the Red Sox as he has emerged as the defensive anchor in the outfield. While his offensive stats do fall behind other slugging outfielders, a strong stretch leading up to the Midsummer Classic combined with his excellent defense could make Rafaela a viable All-Star option. Payton Tolle The final candidate started his season in Worcester, but since arriving at Fenway, has become one of the Red Sox's most consistent rotational pieces. Payton Tolle made his MLB debut at the tail end of last season before being moved into a bullpen role for the postseason. After narrowly missing the Opening Day roster due to offseason acquisitions, a string of injuries to Sonny Gray and Garrett Crochet opened the door for Tolle’s 2026 season debut last month. In five starts since then, Tolle has turned in five excellent outings. He’s amassed a 2.05 ERA through 30.2 innings and has a K/9 rate of 8.8. He’s held hitters to a .160 batting average and boasts a K% of 26.1. His opponents' batting average, OPS, and BABIP have all seen significant improvement from his 2025 campaign. Most recently, he held the robust Atlanta Braves offense to just two runs in eight frames on just 85 pitches, his longest professional start. The main obstacle standing in the way of Tolle’s first All-Star selection is his lack of innings pitched. Tolle ranks fifth out of the Red Sox six regular starters (including the injured Crochet) in innings pitched, and is 140th among AL qualified starters. Despite the smaller body of work, Tolle’s outings are turning heads. If he can continue to string together solid appearances into the summer, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Tolle make the trip to Philadelphia. View full article

Boston Red Sox Minor League Affiliate Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series at Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 2-4 Season Record: 23-20 Worcester got back in the win column with a 4-0 victory in the series finale. Six pitchers made appearances for the WooSox as they emptied out their bullpen. Devin Sweet pitched a scoreless first inning, allowing two walks and striking out one before turning the ball over to Eduardo Rivera. Rivera earned his fourth win of the season for his two innings of work, allowing a hit and a walk while lowering his ERA to 2.13. Jack Anderson got a hold for his three innings of work, the longest outing of the afternoon for Worcester. He also allowed just one hit and one walk before Angel Bastardo came into the game. He pitched a perfect inning, striking out two. Tayron Guerrero also pitched a perfect inning, and Tommy Kahnle closed out the game, allowing one hit but completing the shutout for Worcester. It was a successful day at the plate as well for Worcester as they tallied four runs on eight hits. Mikey Romero and Nathan Hickey led the way with two hits and an RBI apiece. Hickey hit his third homer of the year in the third inning, grabbing a 1-0 lead. Romero then added on a run of his own driving in Nate Eaton on a single. Later in the sixth inning, Kristian Campbell doubled, driving in Romero. To cap off the three-run inning, Vinny Capra drove in Campbell on a single as the WooSox put the game out of reach. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series at Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies): 3-3 Season Record: 17-21 Portland lost on a walk-off for the second straight game, losing 6-5. Michael Sansone got the start and notched five frames of work. He allowed four runs on five hits in what was one of his worst starts of the season. He allowed two home runs while striking out three. Caleb Bolden pitched three innings of relief and flipped the script. He gave up two walks and just one hit, striking out one. He lowered his ERA to 4.43 as he rectified Sansone’s rough start. Unfortunately for Portland, the momentum gained by Bolden faltered when Cooper Adams came into the game. Over ⅔ innings of work he allowed two runs on two hits as he relinquished the lead and Hartford won the game on a walk-off fly ball to center. Franklin Arias has begun to come back to Earth after his scorching start to the season. He went 0-for-4 with a walk as his batting average sunk to .330. Brooks Brannon and Miguel Bleis each tallied two RBIs as they made up the bulk of Portland’s offense. Brannon crushed his seventh homer of the season in the first inning, giving Portland a two run advantage early. Bleis then hit a two-run homer of his own later in the inning as the Sea Dogs took an early four-run lead early. After Hartford tied the game at four runs apiece, Max Ferguson singled in the top of the ninth to score Tyler McDonough and take a one run edge. Despite the homers, Portland couldn’t produce enough to make up for the spotty pitching, falling for the second day in a row. High-A Greenville Drive Series vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays): 1-5 Season Record: 15-24 Greenville snapped their eight-game losing streak as they beat Bowling Green 12-10. Alex Bouchard got the nod, starting Sunday’s contest with high hopes for Greenville. He allowed three runs on six hits across four and ⅓ innings. He walked four, but limited the potent Hot Rods offense. P.J. Labriola earned the win for his performance on Sunday. He gave up two runs on two hits but struck out three across one and ⅔ frames of work. Danny Kirwin had trouble keeping Bowling Green in check, allowing four more runs in his one and ⅓ inning appearance. In a close game, Matt McShane entered in a high stakes situation. He handled the pressure well however, allowing nothing but a solo homer as he was just good enough to help Greenville snap their skid. Greenville’s offense was hot on Sunday, amassing 12 runs on nine hits. Mason White contributed five RBIs as he helped lead the Drive to victory. Jack Winnay carried his excellent performance from Saturday into Sunday, getting Greenville on the board with a one-run single in the first inning. White then drove in Yoeilin Cespedes later in the inning with a single of his own. Freili Encarnacion added the third run of the inning as he drove Winnay in on another single. Yophery Rodriguez joined the party in the third inning, reaching on a throwing error as Winnay and Isaiah Jackson scored. Justin Gonzales then hit his eighth double of the season, adding two runs and extending the lead to six. In the fourth, White collected four more RBIs as he crushed his eighth homer of the season, a grand slam to make the lead ten. Justin Gonzales then hit a homer in the fifth inning as he brought the run total to 12. It was just enough to snap the losing streak as Greenville emerged victorious. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series at Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals): 2-4 Season Record: 17-22 Salem lost by one run for the third straight game, this time by a score of 6-5. Jacob Mayers worked the first two frames of the afternoon, allowing two hits and one run but struck out six as he maintained a respectable 2.41 ERA. Myles Patton took the next one and ⅓ innings, allowing the same stat line as Mayers, one run on two hits. Harry Blum took over in the fourth inning, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks. Wuilliams Rodriguez came out of the bullpen hot. He turned in three innings of perfect ball, striking out two. Nicolas De La Cruz entered in the ninth inning looking to stave off a walk-off from the Nationals. He failed to do so, however, walking three and allowing the walk-off on a wild pitch as Salem fell for the third straight time. Salem’s offense has been consistent as of late, and this continued into Sunday’s contest. Kleyver Salazar got the scoring started early, driving in Enddy Azocar on a line drive single in the first. Down 5-1 in the eighth, Ilan Fernandez doubled, driving in Anderson Fermin. Later in the inning, Azocar brought Fernandez home on a double of his own. With the lead within reach in the ninth, Luke Heyman scored on a wild pitch to bring the RidgeYaks within one. D’Angelo Ortiz then tied the game with a sacrifice fly to drive in Avinson Pinto. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough for the win as Salem fell just short yet again. View full article

Boston Red Sox Farm System Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series at Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 1-4 Season Record: 23-20 Worcester fell for the third straight time in a five-inning game shortened by rain. Alec Gamboa made the start for the WooSox, going four innings before the rain became too much. He allowed four hits and two runs, both runs coming via solo homers. Gamboa’s start was otherwise unremarkable, he struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. The WooSox offense recorded four hits before the game was suspended. Similarly to Friday’s contest, they didn’t record a hit with runners in scoring position despite having four opportunities. Kristian Campbell, Matt Lloyd, Nate Eaton, and Braiden Ward each recorded a hit. Campbell, Eaton, and Ward each singled and Lloyd doubled. Ward also drew the only walk of the afternoon for Worcester. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series at Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies): 3-2 Season Record: 17-20 Portland lost in walk-off fashion despite excellent work from the bullpen. Jedixson Paez was scratched from his start on Saturday evening with a sore hip, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. Patrick Halligan stepped up in his place and put together his best outing of the season. Across a season-high four innings, Halligan didn’t allow a baserunner. He struck out four amid his perfect outing, setting up Erik Rivera for his relief appearance. Rivera’s outing was a mixed bag, however. Over two and ⅓ innings, he allowed one run on a wild pitch and Hartford scored once more on a passed ball. Despite this, he sent five batters packing on strikes. Rivera is a strikeout machine, totalling 30 punchouts over 22 and ⅔ innings. Over the next two and ⅔ innings,Max Carlson struck out three and didn’t allow a run. His outing gave the Sea Dogs offense room to work as the game advanced to extras. In the tenth, Reidis Sena tried to fend off the Yard Goats as they attempted to walk it off. And walk it off they did, with two men in scoring position, they dropped down consecutive sacrifice bunts, winning the game. Sena got hit with the blown save as he failed to win it for Portland. If you went to Saturday’s game after being in attendance Friday, you might have thought you were watching the same game all over again. Slow offense on both sides led to yet another extra-innings match-up. Brooks Brannon got the Sea Dogs started with a one-run double in the first, driving in Nate Baez. Down 2-1, Tyler McDonough stepped to the plate in the seventh and launched a solo homer to tie the game. Max Ferguson played the hero in the tenth, scoring Will Turner on a ground ball to left field. Despite Ferguson’s heroics, Portland fell in heartbreaking fashion. Franklin Arias was also removed from the game in the fifth inning after going 0/2 with a walk. Johanfran Garcia, Brannon, and Ferguson each recorded two hits, but the Sea Dogs went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position as they failed to capitalize. High-A Greenville Drive Series vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays): 0-5 Season Record: 14-24 The losing skid continued for Greenville as they lost for the eighth straight game. Devin Futrell put in two and ⅓ innings of work to start Saturday’s contest, allowing seven hits and four runs as Bowling Green’s offense jumped ahead early. He was ejected in the third inning. While not much has gone right for the Drive during their losing streak, Osvaldo Berrios’ rehab stint on Saturday did. Across two and ⅓ innings of work Berrios allowed one hit and one walk as he struck out four of the nine batters he faced. Jay Allmer took the next two and ⅓, but let Bowling Green take control as he got the loss and a blown save. He allowed three hits and walked three, giving up four runs (one unearned) as his ERA rose to 8.24. Allmer was bad, but Luis Cohen was worse. Over the final two innings he allowed the Hot Rods to tack on an additional six runs on six more hits and two walks. Saturday was Greenville’s strongest offensive performance in a long time, but it still wasn’t enough to take down the Hot Rods. Down three in the second, Antonio Anderson tripled, driving in Ronny Hernandez. He was driven in later in the inning on a ground out by Natanael Yuten. Down 4-2 in the third, Jack Winnay homered with Yoeilin Cespedes aboard to make it a tie game. One inning later, the Drive took the lead on an RBI single from Justin Gonzales. Gonzales went ⅘ with an RBI and a run as he continues his dominant season. Cespedes followed this up with an RBI single of his own as he also had a four-hit day, leading the team with a .315 batting average. To cap off a three run inning, Winnay drove in Gonzales with a double, his third RBI of the day. As the Hot Rods scored ten unanswered runs, there was nothing the Drive could do but shake their heads. The only silver lining was a second home run, and fourth RBI, from Winnay, who contributed to half of the Drive’s offensive success. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series at Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals): 2-3 Season Record: 17-21 Salem fell yet again by a one-run margin, this time by a score of 10-9. Cole Tolbert pitched the first three innings of Saturday’s contest, allowing just one run on a solo homer. He struck out five of the ten batters he faced as he let up his first run of the season thus far. Leighton Finley took the next three frames as the game started to unravel. Fredericksburg teed off against Finley, notching ten hits and eight runs as they drew four walks. Finley struck out just one batter in what was his worst start of the season by far. His ERA rose from 1.52 to 4.05 as the Nationals took advantage of his poor showing. Adam Bates took the final two innings, looking to rebound from Finley’s disaster. He pitched okay, allowing one more run and walking four. Salem’s offense fought hard, but fell just short for the second straight contest. D’Angelo Ortiz scored on a wild pitch in the second inning to put the first run on the board for Salem. Ty Hodge followed this up with a sacrifice fly in the third inning to score Skylar King, snagging a one-run lead. King then reached in the fifth on a scoring error as Enddy Azocar crossed home. Andrews Opata scored next as Hodge reached on a fielder's choice. The RidgeYaks weren’t done scoring, King scored a second time on a single by Andruw Musett. Finally, Frederik Jimenez scored on a single by Avinson Pinto to establish a three-run lead. With the tables turned and Salem facing a three-run hole in the seventh, Pinto drove in two on a single to put the RidgeYaks within striking distance. Down 10-8 in the top of the eighth, Opata drove in Starlyn Nunez, but Salem was unable to tie the ballgame. View full article

Boston Red Sox Minor League Recap (May 15) Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series at Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 1-3 Season Record: 23-19 Worcester fell for the second night in a row 5-2 in a bullpen game. Cade Feeney got the start in his first game since being called up from Double-A Portland. He gave up one run on one hit over two innings, walking two. Kyle Keller took the next two, allowing another run on three more hits. He struck out three and gave up one walk. Jacob Webb took the fifth and sixth innings, giving up one more run and two hits, and striking out three. Wyatt Olds took the final two innings, allowing Buffalo to tack on another two runs on two more hits. It was a rough day all around for the WooSox pitching staff as they struggled to find stability. It wasn’t a very successful night at the plate either for Worcester, who notched just one RBI as they went 2-for-14 with RISP. Jason Delay got the WooSox on the board in the second, driving in Tsung-Che Cheng on a fielder's choice. Worcester's only other run came in the seventh inning when Mikey Romero scored on a wild pitch. Nine batters reached base as Worcester totaled six hits and eight walks, but they struggled to drive runs in. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series at Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies): 3-1 Season Record: 17-19 Portland won 2-1 behind strong pitching and timely hitting. Danny Coulombe made his first rehab start on Friday, turning in an inning of one-hit ball. John Holobetz took the next five innings, working an excellent outing of his own. He struck out four, allowing one run on a solo homer, and limiting the Yard Goats to three hits. Joe Vogatsky pitched the following three innings, allowing a hit and a walk, He punched out three as he earned his first win of the season. Caleb Bolden earned the save for his inning of relief work, sitting down one batter on strikes as he staved off any chance of a Hartford comeback in extras. Despite having less than ideal numbers with RISP, Portland’s bats were hot. All but one of the Sea Dogs starters got on base at least once, and four batters had multiple hits. Tyler McDonough struck first with an RBI single in the fifth inning, scoring Nelly Taylor. In a 1-1 ball game in the tenth inning, Nate Baez grounded out to second, driving home the winning run in Ahbram Liendo. Max Ferguson was rock-solid at the dish, going 3-for-5 as he bumped up his average, helping Portland to their third straight win. High-A Greenville Drive Series vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays): 0-4 Season Record: 14-23 The Drive lost their seventh straight, getting crushed 10-2. Marcus Philips continued to struggle through the early stages of his professional career on Friday, allowing five runs across just three and ⅔ innings. Philips bumped his ERA to 8.44 as he lost his third game of the year. Shea Sprague took the next three and ⅔, but wasn’t much better. He gave up eight hits, and walked an additional four batters. He allowed four more runs, striking out four. His struggles continued as well as his ERA rose to 5.66. Joey Gartrell took the final inning and ⅓, allowing one more run and three hits. His ERA rose as well, to 6.45. It wasn’t much better for Greenville at the plate. In the third, Natanael Yuten clubbed his fourth homer of the year, a solo shot to center field that put the Drive in the scoring column. The Drive’s other run also came by way of the long ball. In the sixth inning, Yophery Rodriguez hit his tenth homer of the season. He leads the Red Sox organization in home runs. Outside of Rodriguez and Yuten, the Drive were silent when it came to driving runs in. They went 0-for-11 with RISP and left nine runners on base. Freili Encarnacion was the only one to record multiple hits, hitting a triple in the eighth inning. In the ninth, Justin Gonzales, who started at first base instead of the outfield, hit a triple of his own. However, facing an eight-run deficit, it wasn’t enough to bring Salem back into the game. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series at Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals): 1-3 Season Record: 17-20 Salem fell 6-5 despite an outstanding performance from Ty Hodge in a close contest. Jason Gilman took the first two and ⅔ innings for Salem, allowing a two-run homer in the first inning. It was the only scoring Gilman allowed as he struck out three batters. Dalvinson Reyes was hit with his third loss of the season for his appearance in Friday's game. Over three innings, Reyes walked three and allowed three runs (one unearned) on just one hit. Griffin Kilander took the next inning and allowed yet another hit on three more runs. The pitching staff finally found some steady ground with Wuilliams Rodriguez, who pitched a flawless inning and ⅓. Ty Hodge highlighted the RidgeYaks offensive efforts on Friday, collecting three RBIs on two hits. However, it was Skylar King who scored the first run for Salem, reaching home on a throwing error in the third inning. Kleyver Salazar followed King up with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, driving in Starlyn Nunez. Later in the inning, Hodge singled to drive in King, tying the game. Facing a three-run deficit in the eighth, Ty Hodge brought the RidgeYaks within one on a two-run double. However, it wasn’t enough as Salem fell by a one-run margin. View full article