
A rough night for Red Sox pitching across the board in the first few frames.
To watch baseball in any capacity on Friday felt like a 1976 hit single by Thin Lizzy, because the boys were back in town! Unfortunately, the result of watching baseball was the Red Sox snapping a ten-game-win streak following the All-Star break, as I match sentiments of Jake Roy and Brian Joyner that we should just, like, play through the break, right?
As it turns out, the minor leaguers also had some difficulty returning, as they went 1-3, requiring a ninth-inning go-ahead home run to avoid a winless Friday night. Plus, David Hamilton and Kristian Campbell must feel like Paul Rudd next to Hot Ones host and generationally good interviewer Sean Evans (video below for those unfamiliar) playing at Polar Park in the same infield in the farm system again, because they turned not one, but two, double plays. Too bad this was but a highlight among a night that the team allowed eleven runs. Let’s get into it!
Worcester: L, 3-11 (BOX SCORE)


The RailRiders (Yankees AAA) were able to treat the base paths like train stations in the first game of this shortened series, thanks to Cooper Criswell allowing six runs on eight hits in his 4 2⁄3 innings. Worcester gave up sixteen hits on the night while striking out just seven and allowing three balls out of the park. Offensively, the WooSox could not keep up with this (that’s putting it lightly) as they stranded nine men. David Hamilton was worse than bad in his last few months in Boston. He was so bad, he was sent to the mayor’s office last week upon his demotion to Triple-A by our own Jake Wallinger. He did participate in two double plays with FIRST BASEMAN KRISTIAN CAMPBELL and he did reach base twice in the leadoff spot Friday night, but was a victim of the team’s only extra base hit coming courtesy of a late home run by Trayce Thompson. That was Thompson’s tenth of the year, closing the gap to a very manageable (sarcasm font sarcasm font sarcasm font) 9-2 in the seventh inning. Isaac Coffey goes at 4:05 this afternoon.
Portland: L, 3-6 (BOX SCORE)


Another rough start in Reading (Phillies AA) for the farm, as Dalton Rogers gave up four runs in, well, fewer than that amount of innings, requiring Chad Epperson to go to the bullpen early where, luckily, Caleb Bolden threw a few quality innings to lower his ERA to 9. Mikey Romero knocked his nineteenth double and his fourth triple of the 2025 campaign, but failed to score on the night due to James Tibbs directly behind him striking out three times. The same could be said for catcher-by-trade-DH-by-organizational-clutter Ronald Rosario getting two singles but the two guys behind him totaling for 3 strikeouts.
Greenville: W, 4-3 (BOX SCORE)


The lone victor of Friday night, Greenville had a rough start by Brandon Clarke, who had trouble finding the zone, throwing just 33 strikes in 60 pitches, walking four and getting tagged for a pair of runs in 2 2/3, but that start was mercifully cut short in the third by an hour and twenty-seven minute rain delay, after which Mike Sansone came through and carried the team for 4 1⁄3 frames allowing just a run. Add in a two-inning masterclass by Isaac Stebens, and the Drive were able to stave off a strong start that outlasted the rain delay by Bowling Green (Rays High-A) pitcher Gary Gill Hill, whose name reminds me of an antagonist in a sitcom about car sales. Once Greenville reached the Hot Rods’ bullpen, it was time for Yophery Rodriguez to have some late game heroics, breaking this one out of a tie with a solo shot and putting this one away for good.
Salem: L, 4-6 (BOX SCORE)


13 strikeouts were the name of the game in Salem as Devin Futrell suffered his fourth consecutive decision loss despite never actually being that bad on the mound for the Red Sox. Salem waited until the ninth inning to capture five of their ten hits as they entered the inning down 6-1, so this game doesn’t appear as one-sided as it actually was. And, to their credit, the guys still flew around the base paths: Starlyn Nunez got a triple in that final frame, continuing his July hot streak despite the week break, Andruw Mussett scored the lone early-innings run off of the Woodpeckers (Astros A) pitching and added in a late single, and the team in total reached double-digits. Also, while we’re at it, can I say how yolked (no pun intended) that Woodpeckers mascot looks on the team’s logo? It’s giving Worcester’s own Assumption University greyhound, Pierre, a run for its money. If I’m seeing that thing coming at me, I’m running.
Have a happy Saturday!