May 30, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Brito grand slam powers FCL Sox; Song streaking for Worcester
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The WooSox won their fourth straight, coming out on top of Friday's matchup against old friend Elmer Rodriguez. Allan Castro tripled to lead off the eighth inning and came in to score on a Jason Delay base hit, snapping a 5-5 tie. Castro also singled and walked in the win. Mikey Romero took Rodriguez deep for a go-ahead two-run homer in the third inning, his third long ball of the year. Nate Eaton doubled as part of his two-hit evening. Starter Michael Sansone went 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Noah Song followed with 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief, striking out two and walking one. It was the sixth consecutive scoreless effort for the right-hander. Zack Kelly picked up the win, allowing a run in his two innings of work, and Tommy Kahnle struck out one in a perfect ninth to notch his fifth save of the year.
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Portland squandered its share of late opportunities, losing for just the second time in the last 10 games. Franklin Arias had another two-hit night, his fifth multi-hit effort during his six-game hitting streak. Nate Baez blasted a two-run homer, while Caden Rose was 3 for 4 with an RBI. Dalton Rogers overcame some wobbly control, giving up just one hit over three scoreless innings, but walking four against three strikeouts. Cade Feeney allowed four runs in three innings of relief, surrendering a three-run homer to a rehabbing Jorge Polanco. Reidis Sena kept things close with three hitless innings, walking one and striking out three. Out of pitchers, the team turned to catcher Raudelis Hernandez in the 10th, who issued an unintentional intentional walk before giving up the walk-off base hit.
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The Drive jumped out with four runs in the first, but the Tourists had a 10-0 run to halt their 10-game losing streak. Mason White blasted a three-run homer in that first inning rally, as the second baseman added a double and a walk on the night. Gerardo Rodriguez also went deep for the Drive with a two-run blast in the ninth. Rodriguez also doubled, finishing 2 for 5 with three RBI. Isaiah Jackson was 1 for 3 with a pair of walks, while Yoeilin Cespedes singled, walked, and scored twice.
Jojo Ingrassia got the start for Greenville, going two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out three without issuing a walk. Asheville jumped on Shea Sprague for six runs, handing him the loss. PJ Labriola was a highlight out of the bullpen, picking up 3 1/3 innings and allowing just one unearned run. Like Portland, the pitching-depleted Drive were forced to turn to a backup catcher to eat some pitches, with Hudson White allowing three runs in the ninth.
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A late Hickory rally put the game out of reach, but Salem did not need to use any catchers to pitch. The fifth inning produced a highlight for the RidgeYaks, as Stanley Tucker singled and immediately stole second and third. After a Starlyn Nunez walk, Tucker then stole home as part of a double steal that brought Salem within two. Skylar King had a solo homer for Salem, while D'Angelo Ortiz was 2 for 4. Starter Jose Bello was saddled with the loss, allowing two runs on one hit in 4 1/3, walking three and striking out two.
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A Josue Brito grand slam got the FCL Sox back in the win column after five consecutive losses. Knotted at 2-2 with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Brito ripped a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence to give the Sox a lead they would not relinquish. The 19-year-old right fielder also singled to finish 2 for 3 on the day. Jhoan Peguero had a two-run double in the second and a two-run single in the fifth to provide insurance that would prove decisive in the final score. Brady Tygart made his second rehab appearance, giving up two runs on 2 2/3 innings. Yermain Ruiz surrendered four runs in 3 1/3 but came away with the winning decision, and Yander Bonaci pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the save.
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Player of the Day: Josue Brito delivered Friday's biggest hit, a tie-breaking grand slam in the FCL Red Sox win. It was the outfielder's second homer of the season, and he moved into the team lead in RBI with 13, passing the recently-promoted Louis Andujar. Brito signed out of Venezuela to a modest $20,000 bonus in January 2024. After a solid rookie campaign in the DSL, he broke out in 2025 with a .284/.497/.606 line, earning him the team's Latin Program Player of the Year honors.
Photo Credit: Noah Song by Kelly O'Connor