Minor Lines 5/1: Great pitching leads to a 4-1 day on the farm

While Antonio Anderson is scorching at the plate in Salem.

Worcester Red Sox 7, Toledo Mud Hens 4 (BOX)

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Worcester got the scoring started early in this one, jumping out to a 5-0 lead early against the Mud Hens (DET). RBI doubles from Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro, followed by a home run from rehabbing Connor Wong, gave starter Shane Drohan all he needed for his third win.

Drohan struck out seven, allowing three runs over five innings, and has a 1.90 ERA on the season. Roman Anthony added an RBI single in the eighth inning for an insurance run on the 7-4 victory. Isaiah Campbell threw a clean ninth inning to tally his second save.

Nick Sogard was a late addition to the lineup, in place of Marcelo Mayer, who had back tightness. Sogard was on base four times, with two hits and two walks, as well as a stolen base.

On Friday at 6:05 ET, Cooper Criswell (1-0, 0.82) will take the ball for the Woo Sox.

Portland Sea Dogs 5, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3 (10 inn.) BOX

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Hayden Mullins made his Double-A debut for Portland after proving that High-A was no longer a challenge for him. He continued the dominance against the Fisher Cats (TOR) on Thursday. Mullins went 5 2/3 innings and struck out 10 batters, his fifth straight outing of six or more K’s to open the season. He did walk four and allowed one run, leaving with a no-decision in a 1-1 game.

Shortstop Mikey Romero stepped up big late in this game. First, Romero put the Sea Dogs ahead in the 7^th with an RBI double. Then, in extra innings, Romero’s RBI single put them ahead again, 3-2. Portland added two more on a two-run single from catcher Ronald Rosario. Zack Bryant held on to notch his second save, and the Sea Dogs won 5-3 in ten. Jack Anderson threw 3 1/3 excellent innings in relief to get the win, striking out four. His ERA is 0.84.

Portland’s starter is TBD on Friday at 6:35 ET.

Game 1: Greenville Drive 5, Asheville Tourists 3 (BOX)

Game 2: Asheville Tourists 4, Greenville Drive 3 (BOX)

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The Drive split a doubleheader on Thursday against Asheville (HOU). In Game One, the Drive were led by home runs from Andy Lugo (2) and Yophery Rodriguez (2). Outfielder Nelly Taylor continued his strong start to the season, with three hits, two runs scored, and three stolen bases, which gives him seven on the year. Juan Valera got through 4 1/3 innings, with two earned runs allowed and four strikeouts. Matt McShane, a recent promotion to Greenville, went the rest of the way to gain the win.

Greenville could not complete the sweep, losing the late game 4-to-3. Cooper Adams started and got through five, allowing two runs with eight strikeouts and just three baserunners allowed. Trailing 4-1 in the seventh, the Drive battled back thanks to RBI singles from Marvin Alcantara and Kolby Johnson, but fell short when Franklin Arias struck out to end the game. Arias is 0-for-11 with three walks since his promotion to High-A.

Noah Dean (0-0, 2.35) gets the ball on Friday at 6:45 ET for Greenville.

Salem Red Sox 5, Fredericksburg Nationals 4 (BOX)

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Blake Aita got the ball on Thursday and had a standout performance to get the win against Fredericksburg (WAS). He allowed just one baserunner in six innings, a sixth-inning single that was quickly erased by a double play, and struck out seven batters.

The top of the Salem lineup stepped up, with Yoeilin Cespedes tallying three hits and Antonio Anderson going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. He is now batting .360 with a .977 OPS. Frederik Jimenez and Starlyn Nunez also had multi-hit efforts for Salem. Diego Valoria bailed out some late chaos in the ninth, and got his first save in a 5-4 victory.

Austin Ehrlicher (1-2, 10.13) will take the bump for Salem at 6:35 ET Friday.