September 3, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Hull, Schaffner lead Greenville; Mullins dominates for Sea Dogs
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Worcester Red Sox @ Buffalo Bisons (TOR), postponed
With heavy rains and a tornado warning rolling through Buffalo, Wednesday's contest was postponed. They'll try for a doubleheader on Friday.
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A late rally culminating in a 10th-inning walkoff spoiled an outstanding effort by Hayden Mullins. The left-hander dominated for six innings, allowing just one hit, walking one, and fanning 10 of the 20 batters he faced. Chesapeake shortstop and 2025 first-round pick Wehiwa Aloy blasted a pair of two-run homers in back-to-back innings off of Tyler Davis to knot the contest at 4-4. Erik Rivera suffered a tough-luck loss, as the only baserunner he allowed in 1 2/3 innings was a two-out ground ball single in the 10th that plated the automatic runner. Max Ferguson led the way at the plate with a 2-for-4 evening with three RBI that included a two-run homer in the sixth. Reigning Eastern League Player of the Week Johanfran Garcia also went deep for the Sea Dogs. Brooks Brannon and Ronald Rosario had two hits apiece, with Rosario ripping a double.
With a third consecutive loss, playoff hopes are fading quickly. All three teams in front of Portland in the Northeast Division were victorious on Wednesday, and the Sea Dogs now sit 5 1/2 games behind Reading with 10 to play.
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Boston's top two picks in July's draft led the way in Wednesday's wild contest in Bowling Green. Owen Hull continues to be an extra-base machine, as he went 2 for 5 with a double, homer, and three RBI. Hull has reached safely in all 21 games as a professional while tallying 10 doubles and three homers. Fellow Tar Heel product Jake Schaffner was 2 for 4 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to six games. He is 10 for 28 during that hitting streak. Isaiah Jackson doubled and scored a pair as part of his two-hit effort, while Luke Heyman blasted his 20th homer of the season.
Starter Jason Gilman went four innings, allowing four runs on three hits. He walked five and struck out three. Brandon Neely earned the win in relief, giving up two runs in three innings, striking out six without issuing a walk. Joey Gartrell went the final two innings to pick up the save.
Winston-Salem also won, so Greenville could only keep pace with the Dash, remaining 1 1/2 games out with four left to play.
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A two-run rally in the bottom of the eighth gave the RidgeYaks the come-from-behind win. Kleyver Salazar took a bases loaded walk to push home D'Angelo Ortiz with what proved to be the winning run. It was the second free pass of the night for Salazar, who also singled. Franklin Primara was 1 for 4, plating a run with a sacrifice fly during that decisive eighth inning. Willis Maginnis scored a pair of runs as he walked once and twice was hit by a pitch. Christian Foutch turned in a strong start, allowing one run on three hits in five innings, striking out four against three walks. The winning decision went to Yander Bonaci, who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless, walking one and striking out one.
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Player of the Day: It was a sterling effort on the mound for 25-year-old lefty Hayden Mullins. It was the fifth straight start in which Mullins has allowed one or fewer earned runs, a strong finish to a season in which he'd earlier battled some consistency and control issues. The former Auburn Tiger has allowed seven earned runs in 38 innings in eight second half starts, striking out 54 and walking 16. Most impressively, he has not allowed a home run during that stretch, holding Eastern League hitters to a .181 slugging percentage. Mullins is currently ranked 22nd in the system.
Photo Credit: Hayden Mullins by Kelly O'Connor