June 27, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Cordero goes 4 for 5; Groome has mixed results in start
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Franchy Cordero was 4 for 5 at the plate, but it wasn't enough to deliver Worcester to the win. Cordero was a triple short of the cycle, producing four of his team's nine hits and two of its six RBI. Michael Gettys and Jett Bandy had two RBI each, with Gettys' effort coming on a two-run homer. In a day with most affiliates experiencing bullpen days, John Schreiber earned the start, contributing the first two innings. He allowed a pair of runs on three hits, with two walks against a strikeout. Kevin McCarthy gave his team the most outs, throwing three innings, though he did permit six hits and an unearned run. The Red Sox were ahead headed into the sixth inning, but Brandon Brennan had a frame to forget, as he allowed four runs in 2/3 of an inning, putting the game out of reach.
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Portland has struggled at the plate as of late and that trend continued Saturday, as the Sea Dogs mustered only three hits and were victims of a shutout. Kutter Crawford was perfect the first time through the order, but he struggled on the second time, as a pair of home runs as well as a double meant three hits, three runs, and Crawford's hasty exit from the ballgame after 3 2/3 innings of work. Denyi Reyes steadied his ballclub, contributing 3 1/3 frames of shutout, three-hit ball, but the damage had been done, as Portland could not get anything done at the plate, with just six baserunners all game. Tate Matheny now has a hit in eight of his past 10 games after he recorded one of the Sea Dogs' three hits.
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The two teams combined for six home runs, two of which were hit by Greenville, as the visiting Drive came up short. Wil Dalton and Tyler Dearden each went deep, but both were merely solo shots. Tyreque Reed was the only Greenville hitter to have a multi-hit contest, as the team was able to record only four hits. Jay Groome fell to 0-5 on the season, as he had a mixed bag of the start. Five runs went on his tab in five innings of work, but he allowed only four hits, of which three were home runs. He also walked one hitter, while striking out eight. Yorvin Pantoja replaced him and he didn't fare much better, as an additional two runs came across on his watch over 2/3 of an inning.
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Despite being outhit by their opponents, the Red Sox led where it mattered: the scoreboard. Thanks in part to a pair of errors and a pair of walks, Salem put up a four-spot in the first inning and that was all the pitching staff needed. All in all, Lynchburg would commit five errors. Despite walking four batters, Jeremy Wu-Yelland did not allow a run to score in his short, 2 2/3-inning start. Casey Cobb would contribute a lion's share of the innings, following him with 3 1/3 frames of two-hit ball. Stephen Scott was the only Salem hitter with a multi-hit game, but the home side used defensive miscues to keep the pressure on. He and Matthew Lugo each added an RBI.
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Player of the Day: Despite struggling in Boston, Franchy Cordero has excelled in Worcester, a trend that continued on Saturday. After his 4-for-5 performance with a double and a home run, Cordero's Triple-A season line now sits at .381/.469/.691, with six home runs in 113 plate appearances. Cordero now has a four-game hitting streak and has hit the ball with authority since he was demoted to Worcester on May 27.
Photo Credit: Franchy Cordero by Kelly O'Connor