May 29, 2019 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Casas's go-ahead home run lifts Greenville
5/29 Cup of Coffee: It was a light slate on Tuesday with Pawtucket's doubleheader getting rained out and Salem having a scheduled day off. Triston Casas (pictured, right) did his best to make up for this by launching a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth to lead the Drive, while Darwinzon Hernandez struggled again for Portland.
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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) @ Pawtucket Red Sox (Game One, PPD, rain)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs @ Pawtucket Red Sox (Game Two, PPD, rain)
Both games of the doubleheader were rained out on Tuesday, and the two teams will play a single-admission doubleheader on Wednesday at 4:05 pm. The clubs will play another doubleheader later in the season, but the date is to be determined. Kyle Hart was scheduled to make his Triple-A debut after being promoted earlier in the day from Portland.
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It was another rough outing for Darwinzon Hernandez as he saw his ERA rise to 4.81 on the season. Hernandez lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits while walking three and striking out four. Since being sent down following his MLB debut on April 23, Hernandez has pitched to a 6.08 ERA over 23 2/3 innings with Portland, walking 21 and striking out 33. Daniel McGrath was solid in relief, allowing only one run over 4 1/3 innings, and the only run he allowed came on an inside-the-park home run.
It was a rough day for the offense as Portland struck out 17 times on the night. Tate Matheny went 2 for 4 but was also caught stealing, and Bobby Dalbec went 1 for 4 but struck out three times.
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A go-ahead home run from Triston Casas in the top of the ninth proved to be the difference as Greenville came back to stun the GreenJackets. Down 6-5 entering the ninth, Devlin Granberg doubled to lead off the inning, and then Triston Casas hit a two-run home run, his ninth of the year. Casas has been on an absolute tear in May, hitting .326/.398/.651 with seven home runs. You can make a strong case that he is the system's top prospect currently in the minors. Jonathan Ortega also had a strong game, going 2 for 3 with a double, RBI, and stolen base.
Chris Machamer got the start for Greenville and was hit hard, allowing five runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. Kevin Biondic earned the victory with three innings of one-run ball.
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Player of the Night: Jonathan Ortega did a little bit of everything for Greenville on Tuesday night as he looks to turn his season around. A 19th-round pick in the 2018 draft, Ortega entered the day hitting just .195/.290/.244 over 82 at-bats between Salem, Greenville, and Portland, but he went 2 for 3 with a double, RBI, and stolen base against the GreenJackets. Ortega has the defensive versatility on the infield to be a solid organizational player, but so far he has struggled offensively in the lower minors.
Photo Credit: Triston Casas by Kelly O'Connor