Red Sox Minor Lines: The Salem RidgeYaks have arrived
They begin the rebrand with a W, while Freili Encarnacion helps send Greenville to extras in dramatic fashion.
Greensboro Grasshoppers 9, Greenville Drive 5, 11 Inns. ( BOX ) The Greenville Drive fought back late in their season opener before ultimately falling in extras to the Greensboro Grasshoppers, 9-5 in 11 innings on Thursday. The Drive had been shut out through eight innings before Freili Encarnacion delivered a two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game 3-3.
It was an oppo blast, and Freili was deservedly fired up. FREILI ENCARNACION TIES IT WITH A THREE-RUN HOME RUN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH pic. twitter.
com/0EZfwylj2H — Hunter Noll (@Hunter_Noll) April 3, 2026 Each team scored in the tenth, with Greenville tying the game once again due to a balk, before the Grasshoppers opened things up with five runs in the eleventh. Spring training helium lefty Juan Valera got the start and struck out seven batters in 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Reliever Joey Gartrell relieved Valera, pitching 2 1/3 shutout innings.
The loss went to Jay Allmer, who allowed four runs (two earned) in the tenth and eleventh innings. Third baseman Jack Winnay had the lone multi-hit effort for the Drive. Kyson Witherspoon will make his debut tonight at 6:45 ET, toeing the rubber for the Drive.