Worcester: L, 0-1 (BOX SCORE)
The second home run of the series for George Lombard Jr., a solo shot, accounted for the only run in the game in this finale against the RailRiders (Yankees AAA). Alec Gamboa went four innings giving up three hits but, in the end, took the decision loss due to the WooSox’s inability to generate an extra-base hit or any run whatsoever. All in all, Adam Kloffenstein had the WooSox’s number as he went six scoreless and the WooSox as a whole struck out 15 times. Fun fact: Kloffenstein was once the 1-for-1
return from the Blue Jays to the Cardinals for a name we all remember: Jordan Hicks.
Portland: W, 3-1 (BOX SCORE)
Gage Ziehl had a near identical line for the Sea Dogs against the Rumble Ponies (Mets AA) as Gamboa did for the WooSox, allowing a home run, two other hits, and going four innings. The bullpen had just a touch more run support at the right time than the Triple-A squad, as even though Portland managed just five hits, all singles, they benefitted from two Binghamton errors, one that scored what would become the go-ahead two runs in the seventh. Cooper Adams had a strong nine-out save with five strikeouts to finish this one out.
Greenville: W, 5-3 (BOX SCORE)
Whatever the rest of the farm’s opposition was throwing to cause so much offensive ineptitude, the Drive got to Asheville (Astros High-A) in the form of four home runs, half of those coming from Jack Winnay, as home runs accounted for all of Greenville’s runs. Kyson Witherspoon settled down in his first pro scoreless appearance and kept the three walks he issued at bay. Danny Kirwin came in to pitch in the seventh and laid down the law for long enough for Winnay and Isaiah Jackson to each drift some balls over the wall and allow the Drive to take the lead in the eighth.
Salem: W, 1-0 (BOX SCORE)
And finally, another 1-0 game. Amidst an afternoon full of struggles in advancing runners, the victory against Hickory (Rangers A) would come all the way back in the top of the first. With a double, Andruw Mussett scored Andrews Opata, the only batter in the entire game to get multiple hits. And, while Hickory’s pitching was fine enough to not allow a walk and just six scattered hits, Salem’s pitching was just a bit better, as they only allowed two hits on the day.
