Sometimes, a win is more than just a number in the standings—it's a much-needed breath of fresh air. That was the case for the Worcester Red Sox on Friday, who rolled to an 8-3 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders (Yankees' Triple-A affiliate). The WooSox jumped out early, thanks to solo home runs from Tsung-Che Cheng and Nick Sogard—each notching their fourth homers of the 2026 season. Veteran catcher Jason Delay also had a three-hit night, providing steady production from the eight-hole.

Manager Iggy Suarez orchestrated a masterful bullpen game, using six pitchers to keep the Rail Riders off balance. The highlight came in the sixth inning, when right-hander Noah Song entered a high-leverage situation and promptly retired four consecutive batters. For the 29-year-old, it was more than just a clean inning—it was his first win of the season and, remarkably, his first Triple-A win ever. Sure, his ERA still sits above seven, but for one night, the former Navy standout got to feel like the ace he was projected to be. And in the grind of a 162-game season, those moments matter.

While Worcester celebrated, Portland endured a gut-wrenching loss. The Sea Dogs scored 13 runs—yes, 13—and still lost to New Hampshire (Blue Jays' Double-A affiliate). Six home runs, including two from catcher-infielder Brooks Brannon, weren't enough to overcome a disastrous first inning. Starter John Holobetz was tagged for five runs (four earned) before recording an out, and the bullpen couldn't slam the door. The final score looked more like a football game than a baseball box score, and the Sea Dogs are left wondering how you score 13 runs and still come up short.

Down in Greensboro, Greenville's bats went ice cold. The Drive have now lost seven of their last eight, managing just four hits—though three went for extra bases. Mason White continued his power surge, launching a solo home run, his third in the last four games. But the Drive went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, wasting opportunities and forcing two pitchers to grind through innings they'd rather forget. Sometimes, baseball is cruel like that.

Salem, however, showed some fight. Trailing 3-0 early against Delmarva (Orioles' Single-A affiliate), the Red Sox got a lift from 6'5" righty Dalvinson Reyes, who retired 13 consecutive batters to keep his team in the game. It's the kind of performance that builds momentum—and in the minors, that's often more valuable than the win itself.