Worcester: L, 3-6 (BOX SCORE)
Twin Red Wings (Nationals AAA) home runs late in the game made the WooSox the only loser in the organization on Friday, and it’s also a shame that the first of those home runs was a direct response to a long ball Jason Delay hit in the top of the frame to pull the WooSox within one. The bottom of the WooSox lineup each reached base twice and Vinny Capra went 3-for-5, but earlier in the game, Raymond Burgos, who’s turned into a multi-inning work horse, kind of wore a tough start and was pulled in the fourth
inning. Overall, the WooSox were peppered when they really couldn’t have afforded to be and it cost them.
Portland: W, 13-12 (F/10) (BOX SCORE)
The Sea Dogs almost had it locked up in Lehigh Valley (Phillies AA) especially after adding an insurance run to go up 12-9 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but the Phils locked it back up at 12 when Cooper Adams let a home run up. From the jump, both teams had the pitching figured out: Hayden Mullins and Cade Feeney combined for nine runs allowed and three home runs, and the game had thirty-one total hits. The good news: Portland didn’t have to wait long to stave the Phils off after blowing that save, and they had eighteen of those thirty one hits. Johanfran Garcia continues raking with another home run and Miguel Bleis reintroduced himself, if only for a night, with two doubles and a home run. That home run was thought to be the first turning point in the game, moving Portland’s expected winning percentage from just over 35 percent to 85 percent. Of course, the result had to wait, but Portland won nonetheless, thanks in large part to a prospect who simply hasn’t had the year many expected him to in 2026. I’m not about to say one night of nine total bases will turn the whole season around for the 22-year-old outfielder, who’s still batting just north of .200 with a 29% strikeout rate, but here’s hoping it’s the beginning of a second wind of sorts.
Greenville: W, 10-5 (BOX SCORE)
Greenville also didn’t pull any punches at the plate, as through two innings, they already had taken Winston-Salem (White Sox High-A) for a six-run ride. This didn’t keep Kyson Witherspoon from letting the Dash partially back into it, but he kept his own for the remainder of five satisfactory innings. Enddy Azocar is quietly (or not so quietly) proving that he is a bat to watch in the next couple of years: with a 3-for-4 night including a double Friday, he is now slashing .365/.411/.635 in 12 games since being called up from Salem. Azocar is quickly building onto his resume, spending the last year or so adding a bunch of muscle and adding onto that power tool. He’s still quick and has a nice arm, too. Azocar is just 19 still, so I’d expect him to stay in Greenville the rest of the season or enjoy a short call-up to Portland near the end before starting 2027 there, but right now, the sky is the limit if developed right.
Salem: Cancelled
Never to be made up, ending the Minor Lines abruptly just like the week seemingly did. Have a great Saturday!
