The Red Sox minor league affiliates had a mixed Sunday, with standout performances from rehabbing reliever Justin Slaten and steady relief work from Hayden Mullins, though the big league club's future stars couldn't quite pull out wins across the board.
In Worcester, the WooSox fell 6-3 to the Red Wings, struggling to generate consistent offense. Despite going 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position, they managed just eight baserunners total, including only two doubles. Vinny Capra and Anthony Seigler continued to anchor the infield offense, but outside of that duo, only two other players recorded hits. On the mound, Jack Anderson struggled in middle relief as Washington's Triple-A squad pulled away.
Portland's story was brighter, as the Sea Dogs topped Somerset 6-3 behind a breakout performance from Johanfran Garcia. The catcher—brother of big leaguer "Password"—crushed his third home run of the season and drove in four runs. Nelly Taylor, steadily climbing the organizational ladder, added key hits to extend the lead. But the real story was Hayden Mullins, who delivered six dominant innings of relief, striking out ten while allowing just two hits. Notably, Justin Slaten made a rehab appearance as the starter, eating innings and signaling progress for a pitching staff that sorely needs healthy arms.
Greenville couldn't hold on in a 6-4 loss to Spartanburg. Starter Marcus Phillips failed to escape the fifth inning, but the Drive's bats kept them in it, scoring all their runs in the fifth and sixth frames. Mason White launched a three-run homer to pull within one, but the Astros' High-A affiliate answered with two runs in the seventh, and Greenville couldn't rally back.
Salem suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 walk-off loss in extras to the RidgeYaks. The game was knotted at two after regulation, and the pitching staff held Milwaukee's Single-A squad in check throughout. But Salem's bats went ice-cold with runners in scoring position, going just 1-for-14. Ilan Fernandez, batting ninth, did all he could with a perfect 4-for-4 day featuring three doubles, but it wasn't enough as the Warbirds walked it off in the bottom of the extra frame.