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SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Franklin Arias #65 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Worcester, Game 1: L, 2-4 (BOX SCORE)
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Jake Bennett, who had his start derailed by a day due to rain, continues his hot start to 2026. He now has 16 1/3 innings with just one run earned, and continued that with three innings of shutout ball. However, neither that or the okay relief work was enough to propel Worcester to a win in Nashville (Brewers AAA). The WooSox had seven base runners all afternoon and only got some runs on the board via some singles courtesy of two-thirds of their outfield, Nate Eaton and Kristian Campbell. Eaton had two knocks of his own, but the WooSox had no lead enough built up; Devin Sweet let a lead turned into a tie, and Luis Guerrero let the go-ahead run in. Well, maybe there’d be more luck in game two of the double-header?
Worcester, Game 2: L, 2-4 (BOX SCORE)
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No, it’s not de ja vu, it’s not a typo. This game was also a 4-2 loss by Worcester, and the starting pitcher also went three scoreless innings, and the bullpen also struggled. Vinny Capra also hit an RBI. An outfielder hit another RBI. Man, a lot of similarities between these two games… huh… still, Worcester has now lost four straight.
Portland: L, 3-5 (BOX SCORE)
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Friday’s game in Altoona (Pirates AA) was a loss following a less-than-fulfilling Double-A debut by Jay Allmer and Dalton Rogers allowing five walks in 4 1/3 innings.
The loss is unimportant in the grand scheme, though. It’s time to start having a conversation about the trajectory of Franklin Arias’ 2026 season. After initially finding every way but home runs to get on base, he now has three home runs in a week. His OPS has now climed back above 1.5, and he emerges as a real option for a promotion, not just to Worcester, but eventually to the show before the end of the season. He has the same batting average as about three members of the lineup combined, and provides defensive stability, having just one error on the season so far. Worcester’s infield consists of some guys with experience who can aid younger guys like Mikey Romero and Arias along. He’s also still just 20, so there’s plenty of growth to continue for the team’s number two prospect. And, oh yeah, the homer was a BOMB to straightaway center:
Greenville: W, 8-7 (F/10) (BOX SCORE)
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It took extra innings for the farm to have their lone winner, but, like their Major League counterparts, the Drive walked it off. This one had quite a bit more offense, though. Kyson Witherspoon started things off with a 4 1/3 innings outing where he allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, and from there the rest of the night was about avoiding facing Bowling Green (Rays High-A) center fielder Connor Husjak, who had four hits on the night. The Drive enjoyed two home runs on the night, but the most important moment of the night came on a sacrifice fly by Adonis Guzman following a Freili Encarnacion lead-off single to start the 10th. It was ugly, but a win is a win.
Salem: L, 5-7 (BOX SCORE)
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Salem, like Worcester, has now lost four consecutive games. It’s tough to win games when the starting pitcher allows two home runs in four innings, but, as those two long balls were half of the total hits he allowed, matters could have been a lot worse… such as when the next reliever came in and allowed three more runs on four walks. Salem had two home runs of their own, also in the early going, the first two innings, but simply didn’t have the offense when it counted, having just four chances to knock runs in on the night and only converting once. Following a hot start, Salem is now 7-6.
I need to make an Arias pun here to shift focus back onto his amazing start to 2026, so have a Frankl-y-uhhhhh-in amazing Saturday!
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