May 9, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Munoz with four hits, three RBI; Greenville gets first win
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The Red Sox made it two straight on Saturday behind a 14-hit performance, seven of which came from two key guys in the order. Jarren Duran had a 3-for-5 outing at the plate from the leadoff spot, including a solo home run -- his first at Triple-A -- to put the exclamation point on a three-run fifth that would lead the team to victory. He was only bested by Yairo Munoz, who was 4 for 5 out of the cleanup position. He got the scoring going with an RBI single after the first three Worcester hitters reached base to lead off the contest. Munoz paced the team with three RBI as well. Chris Herrmann and Tate Matheny also each had multi-hit outings, one of which left the yard for Matheny. Kyle Hart got the starting nod and was shaky in his season debut, allowing four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. However, he did notch six strikeouts against one walk. John Schreiber earned the win with two shutout frames, striking out four batters. Eduard Bazardo closed it out with a clean ninth to earn his first save of 2021.
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Portland scored early and often, recording a run in each of the first three innings to continue its torrid start to the season in its fourth consecutive victory. While Triston Casas did not earn a hit, he did get the scoring started with an RBI groundout in the first inning. Ryan Fitzgerald also pitched in with an RBI in a two-hit performance, one of three Sea Dogs to do so, joining Jeisson Rosario and Roldani Baldwin. Kutter Crawford returned to the mound for the first time since having Tommy John surgery and recorded four shutout innings without walking a batter. He scattered three hits and struck out five Fisher Cats. Denyi Reyes followed it up with four strong innings of his own, matching Crawford's strikeout total, though the lone New Hampshire run did go on his tab.
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Greenville exploded for five home runs en route to its first win at the High-A level, including two by Tyler Dearden. He went back-to-back with Kole Cottam in the second for his first big fly as part of a four-run inning, following it up with a three-run tally in the sixth. He was the second Drive player to hit a three-run homer in the frame, as Tyreque Reed also put three runs on the board with one swing of the bat. Eight of the nine Greenville batters recorded a hit, five of whom had a pair of base knocks, including Cameron Cannon, who added two doubles. Brayan Bello threw 5 2/3 one-run innings, surrendering four hits with three strikeouts and a walk mixed in. Alex Scherff and Zach Bryant combined for 3 1/3 no-hit innings to close the game out. Scherff struck out three of the four batters he faced.
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Salem was on the other end of an 11-1 scoreline in the first leg of a doubleheader brought about by wet weather on Friday. The teams each recorded seven hits, but Delmarva scored eight runs in the fourth on the way to victory. Bradley Blalock gave up one run on two hits with a walk and five strikeouts, but Jorge Rodriguez allowed five runs to score, four of which were earned, on three hits, including two home runs, as well as a pair of walks in just 2/3 of an inning. Jacinto Arredondo allowed five runs as well, but only two of his were earned. Wil Dalton and Ceddanne Rafaela each had two hits, while Nicholas Northcut had the only Salem RBI, on a single in the first inning.
It seemed as though Delmarva used up all its hits in the early contest, as Salem pitching only allowed three in the nightcap. Shane Drohan drew the start and surrendered the lone run on two hits and three walks across a trio of innings. Cody Scroggins, who gave up one hit, and Brandon Walter, who did not allow any knocks, each had two-inning stints to close out the game. Salem scored in each of its final five at-bats, including two in the seventh to put the game away. Ceddanne Rafaela and Alex Erro each had multi-hit outings, while Stephen Scott added a home run.
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Player of the Day: While two players had five hits today, only one of them had three RBI, so the nod goes to Yairo Munoz. The 26-year-old has an interesting slash line of .353/.353/.353, as he has not walked or earned an extra-base hit in the early going, but had his first three RBI of the season in Worcester's win on Saturday.
Photo Credit: Yairo Munoz by Kelly O'Connor