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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies): 2-3 Season Record: 72-65 Despite outhitting Lehigh Valley 8-7, Worcester failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position as it lost 7-5. Michael Sansone struggled through a 3⅔ inning start, allowing six runs on five hits and issuing four walks. He struck out three, but was unable to quell an offensive uprising. Patrick Halligan took over with two outs in the fourth and was much better. He issued a walk but kept the IronPigs hitless over 1⅓ innings, striking out a pair. John Brebbia came in next, throwing a frame of one-run ball. He gave up a pair of hits and issued another pair of walks, but kept the game within reach. Then, Angel Bastardo threw ⅔ of an inning of hitless relief, walking one before being replaced by Hobie Harris. Harris closed the eight-inning matchup with ease, walking one and striking out another over an inning and ⅓. Braiden Ward led the WooSox offense with three hits and two runs while Allan Castro led the way with two RBIs. Castro’s first RBI came in the first inning when he took a ball deep to center field, giving Worcester an early one-run advantage. Down 4-1 in the fourth, Tsung-Che Cheng drove in Max Ferguson on a triple before scoring on a Tomas Nido groundout. Down by one, Ward would even the score with a solo shot to right center. Down three in the seventh, Castro scored Ward on a groundout, but the WooSox couldn’t catch the IronPigs as they fell 7-5. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets): 4-1 Season Record: 71-65 Portland finished the season with a win in what was supposed to be its penultimate game of the 2026 season, as its season finale was canceled due to rain. It was a low-scoring affair as the Sea Dogs beat out the Rumble Ponies 1-0 in a pitching battle. Morgan McSweeney made his final start of the year a good one, and maybe his best. He spun seven shutout frames, letting up just four hits and a walk. He struck out five as he ended the season on a high note. Steven Brooks finished the Sea Dogs season in perfect fashion. He hurled two perfect frames and struck out four. Portland’s offense wasn’t as outstanding as the pitching, but it got the job done. Ahbram Liendo was the only Sea Dog to record a multi-hit game as only seven batters reached. Will Turner, Brooks Brannon, and Caden Rose each recorded a hit. Turner hit out of the leadoff spot, and wasted no time putting Portland on the board. His leadoff homer in the first inning proved to be the difference as neither team could put a run across home in the ensuing eight frames.

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies): 2-2 Season Record: 72-64 Worcester’s two-game win streak was snapped as Lehigh Valley prevailed 4-1 on Friday night. John Holobetz turned in a solid start on Friday, but didn’t get much run support. He let up one run on four hits over five and ⅓ innings, lowering his ERA to 4.00. He walked one and struck out seven before being replaced by Seth Martinez. Martinez struggled through an inning and ⅔, allowing three runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out a pair as the IronPigs pulled ahead. Devin Sweet took the final frame, striking out one and shutting down the opposition as he gave the offense a late chance. Worcester’s offense struggled mightily, combining for just five hits and six total baserunners. Worcester’s sole RBI came in the fifth inning on a Nate Baez double, scoring Max Ferguson. Baez, Ferguson, Allan Castro, Mikey Romero, and Tsung-Che Cheng were the only five to record a hit while Baez drew a walk as well. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets): 3-1 Season Record: 70-65 Portland put up seven runs in the second inning en route to a 8-4 win over Binghamton. Yordanny Monegro took the first three frames of Friday’s contest, spinning a solid start. He let up one run on three hits and issued two walks. He struck out another before Tanner Houck took over. Houck made his second rehab appearance with Portland, finishing after three excellent innings. He let up one run on one hit and issued a walk. He struck out four over the outing as he earned the win. Max Carlson took the next two frames, allowing one run on a pair of hits. He matched Houck’s strikeout total of four. Cooper Adams took the final frame, but not without a bit of struggle. He allowed another run on a pair of hits. He issued a walk and struck out a pair in the win. After a 14-run outpouring on Thursday, the Sea Dogs picked up right where they left off. They compiled eight runs on nine hits and drew eight walks. Willson Contraras, on a rehab assignment, and Henry Godbout led the way with two hits apiece. Contrearas, Will Turner, and Brooks Brannon all pitched in two RBIs as well. Turner got Portland on the board, homering to right field as Ronald Rosario scored in the second inning. Godbout continued the inning, driving in Liendo on a double to left. The Sea Dogs weren’t done. With two outs, Contreras scored Godbout and Justin Gonzales on a single to center. Brannon capped off the inning with a two-run blast, scoring Contreras as he sent a ball deep to right center. In the fifth, Rosario gave Portland its eighth and final run on a solo blast to center.

Let's see how the Red Sox's farm system did as some seasons came to a close. Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series @ Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 4-1 Season Record: 70-62 Worcester’s hot streak was snapped during the series finale on Sunday. The WooSox gave up seven runs in the seventh inning en route to a one-run loss. Before the seventh-inning disaster, Gage Ziehl turned in a quality start. Ziehl went five one-run innings, allowing three hits and issuing one walk. He struck out a pair as Worcester’s offense took a commanding lead. John Brebbia entered next and kept the Buffalo offense in check in his one-inning appearance. He struck out a pair and allowed one hit. The game got out of hand when Angel Bastardo jogged in from the bullpen. In just ⅓ of an inning, Bastardo let up five runs on four hits, issued a walk, and didn’t record a strikeout as Buffalo got back into the game. Tyler Samaniego entered next and he wasn’t much better than Bastardo. In just ⅔ of an inning, he let up two more runs on three hits and issued a walk as well. He earned the loss for his disastrous outing. Osvaldo Berrios came in next, but his efforts were in vain. He let up one hit and walked another, keeping the Bisons scoreless in the eighth but it was too little, too late as Worcester fell. The WooSox offense was hot through the first four frames of Sunday’s finale but cooled off quickly, failing to respond to Buffalo’s onslaught. Three players, Franklin Arias, Kristian Campbell, and Romy Gonzalez, all recorded three hits as Campbell and Gonzalez contributed two RBIs apiece. Gonzalez gave Worcester the lead early, scoring Arias on a line drive single in the first. Campbell tacked on another before the inning ended, driving in Anthony Seigler on a single. An inning later, Braiden Ward drove in Nathan Hickey as Worcester grabbed a two-run lead. A few batters later, Arias doubled on a hard line drive to the center field wall, advancing to third on a throwing error. Ward scored before Arias was driven home on a sac fly from Seigler. Worcester entered the fourth owning a four-run lead, and didn’t settle. Gonzalez drove home Ward on a single to third, advancing to third on a throwing error. Campbell drove in Gonzalez on a double to left, giving Worcester a large lead. However, it would be quickly relinquished and the offense failed to respond despite getting chances late. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series @ Chesapeake Baysox (Baltimore Orioles): 3-3 Season Record: 67-64 The Sea Dogs fought back from an early 0-2 series deficit, winning the finale to secure the series split. Tyler McDonough was the standout with his second great performance in two days. Caleb Bolden took the first two frames of a bullpen game from Portland. He allowed two runs on two hits and issued a walk. He struck out three before Max Carlson took over. Carlson was excellent over three frames, earning his sixth win of the season. He let up a solo homer, but kept the Baysox hitless otherwise. He struck out four before he exited following the fifth inning. Cooper Adams got the call next, but he couldn’t match Carlson’s performance. He allowed three runs on five hits over 1⅔ innings. Adams issued a pair of walks and struck out three before Tyler Davis was called upon to close the seventh inning. Davis went the distance, closing the game in dominant fashion. He let up one unearned run on one hit, striking out three and earning the save. After a three-hit, two-RBI game on Saturday, McDonough one-upped himself on Sunday. He drove in three on two hits as he helped Portland win the game. Other standouts from Sunday included Henry Godbout, who went 3-for-5, and Will Turner, who drove in two runs. Godbout drove in one run, smashing a homer to left center in the second inning and handing Portland an early lead. After the Baysox took a two-run lead, McDonough closed the gap in the fourth inning. His 12th homer of the year sailed over the wall in right field, driving in Turner and Caden Rose. An inning later, Johanfran Garcia crossed home on a balk. Later in the fifth, Turner crushed a two-run homer to right center, scoring Rosario. Max Ferguson stepped to the plate next and hit a homer of his own, going back-to-back with Turner and giving Portland a five-run lead. Holding a one-run lead in the ninth, Portland sealed the deal on a wild pitch as Godbout scored. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays): 3-3 Season Record: 59-70 After winning by four runs on Saturday, Greenville came up just short on Sunday. A one-run loss closed the season for the Drive, who finished 11 games under .500. Leighton Finley started in the season finale, turning in a solid 4⅔ inning start. Finley kept the Hot Rods scoreless, limiting them to one hit and issuing three walks. He struck out seven in his final appearance of the year. Trennor O’Donnell took the final 3⅓ innings of the game. He dealt through the first two frames of his appearance, but struggled in the eighth. He let up four runs on four hits, striking out a pair as Bowling Green pulled ahead. The Drive had plenty of offensive opportunities, but failed to come through when it mattered the most. Owen Hull had two RBIs as he ended the season with a .337 batting average and a .967 OPS since joining the team in early August. Jake Schaffner, another early August addition, had two hits, ending the season with a .315 average and .797 OPS. Hull’s offensive contributions came in the third, when he hit a single to left field. Nazzan Zanetello and Skylar King scored as Greenville jumped out to a lead. In the eighth, Isaiah Jackson built on the lead, scoring Schaffner on a soft line drive single as Greenville took a 3-0 lead. However, it was short-lived as O’Donnell would relinquish it just a half inning later. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series vs. Hull City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians): 4-2 Season Record: 56-75 Despite accruing 12 hits and scoring seven times, Salem fell by three runs in its final contest of the season. Winners of two straight entering the game, Salem’s season ended on a negative note. Berny Ortiz took the final start of the season in rough fashion. He earned the loss for his three-inning appearance. He allowed three runs on four hits and issued four walks. His three strikeouts were solid, but not good enough to undo the other discrepancies. Williams Montero entered next, but struggled even more. He let up four runs on seven hits in just one inning. He failed to record a strikeout before Nicholas Judice took over, and he walked five but was solid otherwise. He allowed one run but kept the Howlers hitless, striking out two in 1⅓ frames. Alex Kranzler entered to finish the sixth and took the seventh as well. He struggled, but not as badly as Montero or Ortiz. He let up two runs on two hits, striking out three before Yander Bonaci took the final two innings of the season. Bonaci was outstanding, finishing one strikeout amid two perfect innings of relief. D’Angelo Ortiz, Colton Coates, and Andrews Opata all recorded two RBIs in the finale. Both Coates and Kleyver Salazar went 3-for-5, ending the season on a high. The Yaks wouldn’t strike until the third inning, down 3-0. Opata changed that with his 11th homer of the season, crushing a pitch to left field. Down 7-1 in the fourth, D. Ortiz brought the Yaks a little closer with a bases-loaded double. He drove in Salazar and Coates as Brito advanced to third. Brito would cross home on an Opata sac fly later in the inning. The Howlers’ runs just kept pouring on as Salem found itself down by six in the seventh inning. Salazar scored Wills Maginnis on a line drive single to cut into the lead before Coates did some more damage. Franklin Primera scored on Coates’ double, bringing the Yaks within four. In the ninth, Coates drove in Maginnis, attempting to kick-start a last-ditch effort for a comeback win. However, it couldn’t be done as Salem fell 10-7 in their season finale.

Let's see how the Boston Red Sox affiliates did on Saturday evening. Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series @ Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 4-0 Season Record: 70-61 Worcester rolled to its fifth straight win, prevailing 4-2 behind great games from Kristian Campbell and Michael Sansone. Sansone got the start on Saturday evening, spinning a five-frame appearance while keeping Buffalo’s offense in check. He let up one run on a pair of hits but struggled with command, issuing four walks. He struck out two more before Noah Song took over. Song earned the win for his two-inning outing. He too allowed one run on two hits, but struck out three. Devin Sweet hurled a perfect eighth inning before Sam McWilliams struck out two in the ninth, sealing the win. Campbell was responsible for half of Worcester’s offense, knocking in two RBIs and going 3-for-4. Romy Gonzalez was responsible for the other two runs, going 1-for-3. Gonzalez got the WooSox on the board first, turning on a double to center as Nate Eaton scored. Down 2-1 in the eighth, Gonzalez struck again. With Anthony Seigler on third, Gonzalez hit a sac fly to right field to tie the game. Later in the inning, Kristian Campbell took it upon himself to give the WooSox the lead. He clobbered an opposite-field home run just over the fence, giving Worcester just enough to get the job done. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series @ Chesapeake Baysox (Baltimore Orioles): 2-3 Season Record: 66-64 After going down early, a six-run eighth inning propelled the Sea Dogs to victory as they won 6-4. Alex Bouchard struggled in the first two frames of his start, but settled in after. He was pulled after five innings, giving up four runs on four hits and issuing a walk. He struck out three before Seven Brooks took over. Brooks was nearly perfect through 2⅓ innings, allowing one baserunner via walk. He struck out four before being pulled in the eighth. Erik Rivera took it from there, closing the game in scoreless fashion. Across 1⅔ frames, Rivera walked a pair and allowed one hit, striking out four as he earned a save. Tyler McDonough was outstanding on Saturday, tallying three hits and driving in two runs. Behind him was Ronald Rosario, who was responsible for two more RBIs in the win. The Sea Dogs went down early, falling into a four-run hole by the second inning. However, in the eighth, the tables turned. Rosario slashed the lead in half with a two-run homer to right field, driving in Johanfran Garcia. With two runners on later in the inning, Nelly Taylor scored Will Turner on a double to right. Down by one, McDonough scored Taylor and Mason White on a ground ball single, giving Portland a one-run advantage. Brooks Brannon didn’t want to stop there; he tacked on one more with an RBI single to left, scoring McDonough as Portland stormed back to win the game. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays): 3-2 Season Record: 59-69 The Drive won 5-1 in their penultimate game of the season behind a great start and combined offense. Barrett Morgan made his final start of the year a good one, turning in four shutout frames. He allowed one hit and walked two, but struck out three. He maintained a perfect 0.00 ERA in three starts with Greenville. Adam Bates got the ball next, earning the win. He pitched 2⅔ innings of one-run ball, allowing a pair of hits. He struck out two and walked two more, but held the Hot Rods offense largely at bay. Griffin Kilander came in for the final 2⅓ innings, shutting down the Hot Rods. He allowed two hits and walked one, but struck out four en route to a scoreless appearance. Four players recorded an RBI on Saturday, with Isaiah Jackson leading the way with two. Ronny Hernandez went 3-for-3 with an RBI as well. Jackson broke a 0-0 deadlock in the sixth inning, giving the Drive a two-run lead with a homer to right field, scoring Luke Heyman. One batter later, Hernandez would make the lead three as he teed off, going back-to-back with Jackson. Yophery Rodriguez stepped to the plate, looking to do the impossible. The impossible became possible as Rodriguez sent a fly ball deep to right field, going back-to-back-to-back as Greenville jumped way ahead. In the seventh, Givian Sirvania would put the game out of reach with a solo homer of his own to left field as Greenville looks to end the season on a high note on Sunday. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series vs. Hull City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians): 4-1 Season Record: 56-74 With two games remaining in the season and eliminated from playoff contention, Salem won 6-5 behind great games from two top prospects. Sadbiel Delzine has excelled since being called up to Low-A. The trend continued on Saturday as he turned in a four-inning start. He let up one unearned run on four hits, but struck out six of the 16 batters he faced. Jose Bello would come in next and his recent struggles continued. Over three frames Bello allowed three runs on four hits, issuing four walks and striking out only one batter. Caden Vire looked to get the game under control as he entered in the eighth, and he succeeded. He allowed one run on one hit, issuing three walks and striking out three more in 1⅔ innings. While it wasn’t the cleanest outing, Vire earned the win. Yermain Ruiz would enter for the final batter, earning a save as he closed out the win. Three RBIs from Adonys Guzman helped pave the way to a win, with Franklin Primera chipping in two more. Primera struck early, giving the Yaks a two-run lead in the first inning as he took a ball deep, scoring Colton Coates. After Hull City took a one-run lead, Guzman tied the game with a bases-loaded double play, scoring Louis Andujar but wasting an opportunity for more runs. Down by one once again, Guzman played hero for a second time. He blasted a ball to right center, scoring Andujar and Starlyn Nunez and giving Salem just enough to claim victory.

Let's take a look at how the Boston Red Sox's farm system did on Friday. Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series @ Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): 3-0 Season Record: 69-61 The WooSox played a game and a half on Friday, completing the remainder of Thursday’s game. They swept the pair, improving to a four-game win streak. In the completion of Thursday’s game, which was suspended in the 10th inning, Worcester won behind a clutch three-run performance in extras. After the late resumption, veteran reliever Seth Martinez was called upon to preserve the three-run lead. Martinez got off to a hot start, striking out the first two batters he faced. But then, Martinez faltered. With the extra-innings runner at second base, Carlos Mendoza smoked a line drive to shallow right field, scoring Jay Harry as the Bisons inched closer. However, Martinez would shut down any sort of comeback, forcing a groundout to seal the win. The Worcester offense was the story to watch as the game resumed. Kristian Campbell led off the inning by drawing a walk, giving the WooSox two baserunners with Anthony Siegler automatically on second. Seigler advanced to third on an Allan Castro flyout before Vinny Capra did some damage. Capra swung on and hammered a three-run line drive home run to left field, giving Worcester a 6-3 lead that carried them to a win. With vibes high coming off the clutch performance, Worcester cruised to a 10-0 win in the day’s second game. John Holobetz got the start for Worcester, spinning a six-inning gem that kept Buffalo scoreless. Holobetz allowed three hits and issued three walks, striking out four as he stymied the Bisons offense. The strong performance would carry over as Tyler Samaniego entered in the seventh frame. Samaniego walked one and struck out another before Patrick Halligan took over. Halligan was perfect in the eighth, striking out a pair and keeping the shutout alive. Looking to close out a terrific bullpen performance, Osvaldo Berrios took the ninth inning of the shutout. Berrios was perfect as well, keeping Buffalo at three total hits and just seven baserunners all game. Worcester’s offense was even more unstoppable than the bullpen. The bats registered a staggering 19 hits and converted for 10 runs. Nathan Hickey went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, Worcester’s clear MVP. Franklin Arias went 4-for-6 with an RBI as his average increased to .317 with a .860 OPS. With two runners in scoring position in the first, Arias scored on a Nate Eaton sac fly. The early lead grew in the third inning when Seigler drove in Tsung-Che Cheng on a groundout. Hickey broke the game wide open an inning later, driving in Castro and Capra on a deep three-run blast. Ward decided he wanted in on the fun later in the inning, slapping his fourth homer of the season to right center as Cheng scored again. With a 7-0 lead in the seventh, Tomás Nido stepped to the dish with the bases-loaded. Nido hit a sharp base-hit past the shortstop as Eaton scored. Later in the inning, Castro would score as Ward reached on a fielding error. Holding a formidable lead late, Arias put a bow on the blowout. His ninth Triple-A double and fourth hit of the game scored Hickey as Worcester reached 10 runs. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series @ Chesapeake Baysox (Baltimore Orioles): 1-3 Season Record: 65-64 Portland went 51-42 with Arias on the roster. Since the top prospect’s promotion to Triple-A, Portland has gone a middling 14-20. The Sea Dogs’ struggles continued to pile up on Friday as they fell in a low-scoring contest. Morgan McSweeney got the start on Friday. McSweeney let up six hits in four frames, but was able to limit the Baysox to just two runs. He walked one and struck out four before Jeremy Wu-Yelland took over. Wu-Yelland entered in the fifth, throwing two one-run frames. He let up two hits and an unearned run as Chesapeake built on their lead ever so slightly. His four strikeouts matched McSweeney as he walked one as well. Joe Vogatsky was called upon to finish the contest, and he turned in the most successful outing of the day from any Portland pitcher. He let up one run and struck out a pair as he kept the Baysox scoreless, giving Portland a late chance. Unfortunately for Vogatsky and the rest of the team, Portland’s offense struggled through Friday’s contest. The Sea Dogs had 10 opportunities with RISP, but failed to do any damage. Henry Godbout was the biggest standout for Portland, tallying three hits and claiming responsibility for its only RBI. The run was too little and it came too late. With runners on the corners in the eighth inning, Godbout laced a single through the infield. Ahbram Liendo crossed home, but the efforts were in vain as Portland fell 3-1. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays): 2-2 Season Record: 58-69 Greenville lost on a walk-off despite an excellent combined effort from the pitching staff. It was the Drive’s second one-run loss in two days and the offense let multiple opportunities pass it by. Yordanny Monegro started for the second time this season, part of a rehab assignment from Double-A. He turned in two so-so frames but struck out four. He allowed two runs on a pair of hits and issued one walk. Shea Sprague entered in the third inning, taking on a bulk relief role. Sprague let up five hits but was otherwise excellent, shutting down the Hot Rods and punching out seven batters. Aaron Nixon took the final 2⅓ innings of Friday’s game, but he wasn’t as dominant as Sprague. With the game tied going into the tenth inning, Nixon recorded one out before giving up a walk-off single as Greenville lost the game. The Drive did a decent job getting on base, totaling nine baserunners, but struggled to make them count. Greenville went 2-for-12 with RISP, stranding seven as they passed up countless opportunities to change the outcome of Friday’s game. Gerardo Rodriguez and Stanley Tucker were each responsible for an RBI as Jake Schaffner led the team with two hits. Each of the Drive’s runs came in the third inning as they tied the ballgame. Tucker got the Drive on the board with his third homer of the year, a solo shot, to right center. Later in the frame, Rodriguez drove Schaffner home on a line drive single to center. It was all that Greenville could muster, falling by one in a game that could have gone its way plenty of times. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series vs. Hull City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians): 3-1 Season Record: 55-74 With just three games left to play in the 2026 season, Salem entered Friday’s game eager to set itself up to win its final series of the season. Salem did just that, racking up 11 runs en route to a seven-run win. Cam Padgett made what will likely be the last start of his season, spinning 3⅔ shutout innings. He walked one and gave up four hits, striking out five as he got Salem off to a good start. Carson Revay came in next, succeeding Padgett in solid fashion as Hull City got on the board. Over 1⅔ innings, Revay allowed one run on a pair of hits, walking one as well. He struck out two before Nicolas De La Cruz entered. De La Cruz won his seventh game of the season, allowing one run and issuing a walk across 2⅓ innings. He struck out four as he won Friday’s honors. Harry Blum took the final 1⅓ frames, allowing a pair of runs to score before he stopped the bleeding. He walked one and gave up two hits, but had plenty of insurance runs to back him up. Josue Brito and Kleyver Salazar were responsible for most of Salem’s offense, combining for five of the Yaks’ nine RBIs. Salazar went 4-for-4 with two RBIs as Brito went 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Salazar got the Yaks on the board in the third inning, grabbing a one-run lead. With two runners on, Salazar blooped a single to right as Wills Maginnis scored. Brito, the very next batter, would bring in Salazar and Colton Coates with a three-run homer. Adonys Guzman stepped to the plate following Brito, launching a home run of his own. The back-to-back blasts gave Salem an early five-run advantage. In the fifth, Salem would strike again. Starlyn Nunez drove in Salazar on an RBI double to right before Anderson Fermin hit a double of his own, scoring Nunez and Guzman. Owning a seven-run lead in the sixth, Salazar would add one more. He hit a single to left field that scored Maginnis for a second time. Salazar and Coates would score on a fielding error later in the inning as Avinson Pinto reached, giving the Yaks an insurmountable nine-run lead that they held until the end.

Let’s see how the Red Sox farm did as this week's series came to a close. Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees): 3-3 Season Record: 66-61 The WooSox got back in the win column on Sunday afternoon, claiming a 13-10 victory to secure the series split. John Brebbia took the first inning of a bullpen game that featured seven different pitchers on Sunday. Brebbia allowed a hit, walked one, and struck out another, turning over a clean scoresheet to Max Carlson after the first inning. Carlson earned the win for his outing on Sunday, the longest of any Worcester pitcher. He let up a pair of runs on five hits and struck out another before Devin Sweet took over. Sweet struggled across one and ⅓ innings, letting up three earned runs on three hits. He issued a walk and struck out one as Osvaldo Berrios was called in to finish the sixth inning. Berrios struggled even more than Sweet, allowing four runs on four hits in just ⅔ of an inning. Berrios punched out a pair before Angel Bastardo took the seventh inning. Bastardo was excellent, allowing one hit and issuing one walk as he struck out another. Seth Martinez followed Bastardo in the eighth but didn’t fare as well. He let up one run on two hits, striking out one before Hobie Harris was called upon to close the game. Harris earned his third save of the year for his shutout inning of work. He let up one hit but sealed the much-needed win for Worcester. As Red Sox fans anticipate the call-up of Franklin Arias and the reinstatement of Roman Anthony, many forget about Kristian Campbell. Campbell has quietly put together an excellent season and may have put together his best performance so far on Sunday. Campbell led the team with four RBIs on three hits as Romy Gonzales and Brett Harris chipped in three RBIs each. Campbell got started early, launching a solo homer in the second inning and grabbing a one-run lead for Worcester. In the third, Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in Vinny Capra and Nate Baez on a bases-loaded single. Later in the inning, with two runners aboard, Gonzalez scored Kiner-Falefa and Arias on a double to center. The WooSox weren’t done scoring; Harris drove in Gonzalez and Campbell on a double to left, giving Worcester a 7-2 lead. In the fifth, Campbell struck once more. With Gonzalez and Nate Eaton in scoring position, he clobbered his second homer of the game beyond the center field fence, bringing the WooSox total to 10 runs. After a seven-run sixth inning brought the RailRiders within one, Allan Castro drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh, scoring Eaton. With the bases loaded yet again, Harris drew a walk of his own, giving Worcester a three-run lead. With a two-run lead in the eighth, Gonzalez put an exclamation mark on the successful day for Worcester, crushing a homer to right field and sealing the win. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series @ Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants): 4-2 Season Record: 64-60 Portland lost on an extra-innings walk-off, narrowly missing out on their fifth straight win. Alex Bouchard struggled through the first three frames of Sunday’s game. He let up five runs on six hits and issued two walks. He struck out three as Richmond took advantage of his struggles. Caleb Bolden took the next three frames and saw much more success. He let up one hit and issued a walk, striking out a pair before Erik Rivera took over. Rivera matched Bolden’s scoreless appearance over two frames, allowing one hit and striking out three. Reidis Sena entered following Rivera and let up one run. Sena issued a walk and didn’t record an out as he was pulled quickly. Steven Brooks took over in Sena’s place and pitched a one-hit inning, walking one. With the bullpen depleted in the tenth, Portland turned to Hudson White to spin a miraculous win. White failed, however, allowing two runs (one unearned) on two hits as he issued two walks across ⅓ of an inning. Portland’s offense kept most of its momentum following Saturday's 14-run onslaught. The Sea Dogs tallied 16 baserunners as Tyler McDonough led the way with three RBIs. Johanfran Garcia posted his second three-hit game in a row, knocking in one RBI as well. In the second, Caden Rose put the Sea Dogs on the board as he drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Yoeilin Cespedes. Down by four in the third inning, Garcia launched his third homer in two days to left field, cutting the lead to three. An inning later, Ahbram Liendo scored by way of a Nelly Taylor single. With the deficit at two in the top of the ninth, Tyler McDonough played hero. He crushed a fly ball to left field, scoring Rose and tying the game. Cespedes put Portland ahead with a double to left, scoring Garcia. After Richmond tied the game, McDonough gave the Sea Dogs another lead, scoring Liendo on a ground out. However, it wasn’t enough to claim victory as the Sea Dogs fell by one. High-A Greenville Drive Series vs. Rome Emperors (Atlanta Braves): 3-2 Season Record: 55-67 Greenville secured the series win in walk-off fashion, completing a four-run comeback in the ninth. Jose Bello got the call up to Greenville on Friday and turned in a solid start on Sunday. Across four and ⅓ innings, Bello let up three runs on six hits, issuing one walk and striking out three. Bello was followed by Griffin Kilander who struggled through one and ⅔ innings. Kilander allowed five runs (one unearned) on just two hits as he issued three walks. He struck out a pair before Trennor O’Donnell took the final three frames of Sunday’s contest. Across the seventh, eighth, and ninth, O’Donnell allowed three earned runs on three hits. He issued a walk and struck out three as he did just enough to help Greenville to the win. After losing 12-2 on Saturday, Greenville won with the same number of runs. Luke Heyman had a career night, knocking in five RBIs on three hits as the Drive went an impressive 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Down by four in the fifth, Heyman stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. Heyman drove in all three baserunners, crushing a moonshot grand slam to left-center and tying the game. Givian Sirvania, Jake Schaffner, and Owen Hull all crossed home plate. After Rome responded with six runs, the Drive had their work cut out for them if they wanted to get back into the game. Greenville dug in in the eighth inning. Antonio Anderson got it started, turning on a ball and sending a single to center field, scoring Isaiah Jackson. With the bases loaded, Stanley Tucker drew a walk to close the gap to four. Another walk from Sirvania put the Drive within striking distance as Schaffner stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. A groundout to first scored Nazzan Zanetello. The Drive entered the ninth inning down by three runs, and would need some magic to cap off the comeback. Schaffner stepped up with the bases loaded again, and this time he capitalized. He scored Ronny Hernandez on a single to left before Hull reached on a throwing error as Anderson and Tucker scored, tying the game. Who else would step to the plate but Luke Heyman? After a game-tying grand slam earlier in the game, he played hero once again. With two runners in scoring position and two outs, he smoked a groundball through the gap and into the outfield, scoring Schaffner and winning the game for Greenville. Single-A Salem RidgeYaks Series @ Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Houston Astros): 0-6 Season Record: 52-71 Salem’s losing streak reached eight as the Yaks lost both games of Sunday’s doubleheader. Williams Montero started the first game of the day for Salem, turning in a so-so appearance over one and ⅔ innings. He let up two runs, one hit, issuing two walks and striking out four before Nicolas Judice took over. Judice ended his one and ⅔ inning appearance with a near-identical line. He allowed two runs on one hit, walking three and striking out three. Wuilliams Rodriguez entered last and pitched a similar line. Across two and ⅔ innings, Rodriguez gave up two runs on three hits. He issued one walk and struck out a pair as he earned the loss in the first loss of the day for Salem. The Yaks notched nine baserunners through seven innings as Avinson Pinto and Martin Shelar pitched in two RBIs each. Pinto tied the game in the fourth inning on a line drive double to right field, scoring Kleyver Salazar and Starlyn Nunez. Later in the inning, Shelar gave the Yaks the lead with his first double of the season, scoring Pinto and D’Angelo Ortiz. The Drive’s lead was short-lived as Fayetteville took the lead on a grand slam in the bottom of the inning. The second game of the day was a low-scoring affair as Salem fell 2-1. Berny Ortiz took the first three frames in the second matchup of the day, giving up two runs on three hits and tallying five strikeouts. His efforts weren’t enough, however, as he earned the loss in the close game. Nicolas De La Cruz took the next two and ⅓ innings of the game, letting up three hits and walking two as he kept the Woodpeckers scoreless. He struck out three before Yander Bonaci took the final ⅔ of an inning. Bonaci walked one and let up a hit, but kept the Woodpeckers’ score at two in his first scoreless appearance with Salem. Despite 12 batters reaching base, the Yaks went 1-for-11 with RISP and couldn’t capitalize on the strong bullpen performance. Shelar knocked in his third RBI of the day on his second double of the day, scoring Anderson Fermin. The rest of the lineup was quiet as the Yaks fell for the eighth straight contest.