September 7, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Godbout homers again; season comes to an end for Greenville and Salem
9/7 Cup of Coffee: A heartbreaking loss for Worcester did not help the playoff picture despite strong games from Kristian Campbell and Franklin Arias. Henry Godbout hit his fourth home run of the week, and Leighton Finley had a strong showing in Greenville's season finale.
-----
Seven runs in the seventh doomed the WooSox as they lost a pivotal game to Buffalo. Starter Gage Ziehl cruised through five innings, needing just 56 pitches as he left in line for the win. But the Bisons got to Angel Bastardo for five runs and then Tyler Samaniego for two runs to take the lead. The heart of Worcester's offense did its part, led by Kristian Campbell who went 3 for 4 with a double, walk, and two RBI. Both Franklin Arias and Romy Gonzalez went 3 for 5, with Arias notching an RBI double while Gonzalez had two run-scoring singles.
Worcester is now in fourth place and two games out of a playoff spot with two weeks to play.
-----
The Sea Dogs launched four home runs as they kept their slim playoff hopes alive. One of the long balls came off the bat of Henry Godbout, who hit four in five games in the series. He finished 3 for 5 as he raised his OPS over 200 points in the trip to Chesapeake. Tyler McDonough also had a strong series, and he capped it with a 2-for-5 game that included a home run and a double. The other home runs were a two-run shot by Will Turner, and a solo blast by Max Ferguson. It was a bullpen game for Portland, with opener Caleb Bolden allowing two runs over the first two frames. The win went to Max Carlson as he struck out four over three innings of one-run ball, and Tyler Davis recorded a seven-out save.
Entering the final week, Portland is going to need to leapfrog three teams. They are playing one of the teams (Binghamton), but Rochester is currently 4.5 games up with only six to play.
-----
Leighton Finley made a good first impression in the season finale for the Drive. Getting a cup of coffee in Greenville after posting strong strikeout numbers in Salem, Finley struck out seven and walked three over 4 2/3 shutout innings. The Hot Rods got to Trennor O'Donnell for four runs in the eighth to steal the win. 2026 draftees Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull led the way offensively. Schaffner went 2 for 5 with a double, while Hull went 1 for 2 with a walk and a two-run single. Former second-round pick Nazzan Zanetello ended the season on a high note, going 2 for 4 with a steal and a run scored.
-----
Salem also ended its season on a tough note, giving up 14 hits in a loss to Hill City. Starter Berny Ortiz struggled through three innings as he allowed three runs on four hits and three walks. The most effective pitcher of the day was Yander Bonaci who shut the Howlers out over the final two frames. The struggles on the mound overshadowed some strong offensive performances. Andrews Opata made his one hit count, launching a solo home run to open the scoring for Salem. Kleyver Salazar ended his breakout season by going 3 for 5 with two doubles, while Colton Coates went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI.
-----
Player of the Day: For the second time this week, Henry Godbout is the Player of the Day. The system's fifth-ranked prospect is making a strong case that he belongs in the discussion on top-100 prospect lists. The 22-year-old shortstop now has 15 home runs in only 58 games this season, and the power tool was one of his big question marks when he was drafted. He has made significant bat speed gains since being drafted in 2025, and that is helping him post a .924 OPS this year. He has been scorching hot of late, with eight of his home runs coming in the last 15 games.
Photo Credit: Henry Godbout by Kelly O'Connor