August 1, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Arias powers WooSox win; Eyanson fans ten for Portland
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Nine of the game's 15 runs were scored in the 10th inning as Worcester won for the ninth time in 10 games. Franklin Arias led the way in his best game since last week's promotion from Portland. Arias, who entered the contest 3 for 20 since the promotion, led off the game with a homer, ripped an RBI double in the seventh, and delivered a two-run single to cap the 10th-inning rally. He also drew a walk, his fourth in six games. Andrew Knizner joined Arias with a three-hit effort that included a double and a walk. Kristian Campbell was 2 for 4 in his third straight multi-hit game and sixth in his last seven starts. Campbell is hitting .404/.541/.576 during a 16-game on-base streak. Jason Delay and Tsung-Che Cheng had matching lines, both going 2 for 5 with a double.
It was a true bullpen game, with seven pitchers combining to go the 10 innings. Seth Martinez got the first nod, allowing a pair of runs in the first. At 2 1/3 innings, Noah Song had the night's longest outing. He allowed an unearned run on one hit, striking out four and walking one. The trio of Tyler Uberstine, Sam McWilliams, and Angel Bastardo dominated, allowing Worcester's comeback and eventual victory. Uberstine struck out one and allowed one hit in a scoreless 1 1/3 innings. Opposing batters hit just .152/.220/.217 against Uberstine in 14 1/3 July innings as he transitioned to a short relief role. McWilliams struck out four of the six batters he faced in two perfect innings. Bastardo got credit for the win, striking out the side, sandwiching one hit in a scoreless ninth. Bastardo has fanned 16 of the 26 batters he's faced during a five-game scoreless streak. After Worcester exploded for six runs in the top of the 10th, the Tides reached Wyatt Olds for three runs (two earned) in the bottom of the frame, but that was enough for the WooSox to hold on to the win.
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Anthony Eyanson struck out 10 of the 20 batters he faced for the Sea Dogs, but the Senators scored at least one run in every inning from the fifth onward. Eyanson allowed two runs on four hits in those 4 2/3 innings, walking a pair. Along with the 10 punchouts, he had 19 swinging strikes, both new career highs for the 2025 third-round pick. Will Turner delivered a two-run homer in the sixth that knotted the contest at 6-6. Turner also doubled and walked in his 2-for-4 effort. Brooks Brannon was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI.
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The Drive won their fifth straight overall and fourth straight of the series, as over one-third of Greenville's victories this season have come against Asheville. Starter Devin Futrell scattered four hits across six scoreless innings, striking out eight and walking three. The Tourists plated three runs (two earned) in two innings against Trennor O'Donnell, and Joey Gartrell gave up a run in the ninth as he closed out the win. Isaiah Jackson had a pair of hits out of the leadoff spot, including a solo home run in the sixth. That round-tripper was part of back-to-back shots with Hudson White, whose three-run blast was his first of the season. Maximus Martin was 2 for 3 with a walk, RBI, and run scored.
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Salem closed out July with the loss despite a solid start by Sadbiel Delzine. In his second RidgeYaks appearance, the 18-year-old righty allowed a run on two hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five against two walks, and threw 41 of 61 pitches for strikes. Ethan Walker was saddled with the loss as he surrendered three runs in 2 2/3 innings, and Kannapolis added insurance runs in the eighth against Yermain Ruiz. Adonys Guzman drove in both Salem runs, delivering a solo homer in the fifth as part of a 2-for-4 effort. Henry Godbout returned to game action for the first time since May 30th. Feared out for the season when surgery was needed for a broken left hand after he was hit by a pitch, Godbout started a rehab stint Friday. He got the start at shortstop and went 1 for 3 with a walk.
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A thunderstorm paused Friday's inter-organizational bout in the second inning. Isaac Velazquez was responsible for the scoring in the early going with a two-run homer, his seventh of the year. The teams will meet Saturday to pick up where they left off.
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Player of the Day: Franklin Arias finds himself back in this familiar spot, though for the first time as a member of the Worcester squad. The system's top prospect drove in four runs in the WooSox victory. With his organization-leading 21 homers, Arias is now hitting .312/.401/.581 across two levels on the season. He ranks second in the system in RBI (58) and hits (96), while continuing to play strong defense up the middle. Friday marked his first start since his promotion at second base, a position he started to see more time at as the season progressed in Portland.
Photo Credit: Franklin Arias by Kelly O'Connor