McDonough hits for the cycle for Greenville

The Drive -- a franchise that has served as a Red Sox affiliate since 2005 -- entered the 2022 season without a cycle in its record books. As the year nears its final weeks, the team will now be able to add not one, but two entries.

Red Sox outfield prospect Tyler McDonough became the latest to accomplish the feat, notching a home run, single, double and triple -- in that order -- in High-A Greenville’s 10-3 win over Bowling Green on Saturday.

“It felt awesome, that’s really the only word to describe it,” McDonough said. “Especially with how I’ve been doing, struggling a little bit, but I just keep going day to day and getting better. This is all a process.”

Ceddanne Rafaela, who has since been promoted to Double-A Portland, cycled for the Drive on May 17.

McDonough jumpstarted both his and his team’s big nights with a home run to left field as the second batter of the game. Matthew Lugo, Boston’s No. 13 prospect, made it back-to-back jacks with his first of two homers in the game, making it consecutive multihomer efforts for the third baseman.

After adding a single in the third inning, McDonough doubled to left in the fourth. Clearly aware of what was at stake when he stepped to the plate in the sixth, he bolted out of the batter’s box after hitting a line drive to right field and switched on the jets. McDonough dove headfirst into third base, jumped up and flexed his arms in celebration.

“I knew I needed a triple, to be honest, but I wasn’t thinking about it,” he said. “I was just trying to stay with the same approach I had all night, taking deep breaths every chance I could and staying relaxed.”

McDonough, Boston’s third-round pick in the 2021 Draft from NC State, has found his second professional season to be more difficult than his first. But he has put together a collection of notable games, such as a pair of four-RBI nights and Saturday’s milestone. He notes a simplification of his approach at the plate as an indicator of when things are going right for him.

“It’s a process. Coming to the field every day has been a lot of fun, but it’s also been a grind,” McDonough said. “I’ve learned a lot this year from my coaches with the Drive and all the coordinators that come through. I haven’t had the success I want, but it just makes me want to get better each day.”