Red Sox Minor Lines: Payton Tolle keeps knocking on the door

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Tsung-Che Cheng (39) of the Boston Red Sox bats during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays on February 23, 2026 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Worcester: W, 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

Allan Castro, an outfielder who’s been moving up Boston’s organizational ladder at the age of 22, made waves in the series finale against Columbus (Guardians AAA) as his six RB’s on two home runs, including a grand slam, lifted the WooSox to a win. The grand slam made the game 6-0 with two outs in the third and put the game out of reach early due to Payton Tolle being on his game yet again in the Triple-A rotation. Tolle only got through five, but that’s totally fine, as they were all shutout frames and he notched six strikeouts on the afternoon.

Portland: W, 5-2 (BOX SCORE)

Hayden Mullins still hasn’t quite found it this seson – it being longevity or the ability to keep runners off the basepaths – but it is certainly promising to see him strike out seven Fisher Cats (Blue Jays AA) in his four innings. Portland’s offense was abundant and four stolen bases helped put runs on the board. But it was no match for Joe Vogatsky, Max Carlson and noted position player Drew Ehrhard all getting knocked around on the mound. Luckily, the latter hit a home run later in the inning but the deficit was still far too much.

Greenville: L, 5-6 (BOX SCORE)

Greenville’s top six batters combined for two hits in the finale in “Hub City”, aka Spartanburg (Rangers High-A) and Henry Godbout’s glove (and arm) was a liability as he committed three errors on the evening. This game was actually Greenville’s to lose heading into the bottom of the sixth despite the defensive difficulties as well as last year’s compensatory pick Marcus Phillips only lasting three innings, but the Drive bullpen couldn’t hold the middle-inning lead for even a half inning and there was no late action to speak of offensively.

Salem: W, 16-3 (BOX SCORE)

If “early and often” had a picture, it’d be the rolling RidgeYak’s game against Wilson (Brewers A) scoring multiple runs in innings two through seven and improving to 7-2 on the young season. Blake Futrell helped matters with a hitless five innings; Salem actually took a no-hitter into the seventh but by that point the team was up 12-0 anyway, and also to that point, they hadn’t hit one over the fence. The game’s first home run was actually Salem’s last of sixteen runs, when Luke Heyman scores Enddy Azocar, who was on with his third hit. All told, Salem had fourteen hits and eight walks and this game was never in doubt.

Have a marvelous Monday!