June 26, 2021 at 7:14 AM
Cup of Coffee: Duran extends hitting streak; Williams channels Pedroia
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Kyle Hart was done in by three solo home runs as the WooSox fell in Rochester. Hart went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, walking four and striking out two as he was saddled with the loss. Zac Grotz and Phillips Valdez threw a scoreless inning apiece out of the bullpen, but the Worcester lineup was unable to take advantage. Jarren Duran extended his hitting streak to eight games with a bunt single in the sixth inning. Franchy Cordero and Yairo Munoz had two hits apiece, and Cordero added a stolen base and a run scored.
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The major league squad's success against the Yankees has not extended to the Double-A level, as Portland dropped its third straight to Somerset. Frank German, acquired in the deal that also brought Adam Ottavino to Boston, got the start on Friday. He allowed four runs on six hits in five innings, walking one and striking out five. Grant Williams was the catalyst for the offense out of the leadoff spot, going 2 for 4 with a double, run scored, and two RBI. Double play partner Ryan Fitzgerald also had a pair of hits on the night. Triston Casas continues to scuffle some, as he turned in his second straight hitless game. Casas has not had a multi-hit game since June 8, his first contest after being activated following the Olympic qualifiers.
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Chase Shugart took the tough-luck loss despite a solid effort as Greenville fell for the third time in four games. Shugart allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings, marking the second time this season he has pitched into the sixth. Jacob Wallace struck out three in 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief, and Oddanier Mosqueda added a perfect eighth. Tyreque Reed delivered two of Greenville's four hits, snapping out of a 3-for-35 skid. Cameron Cannon accounted for the lone Greenville run with a fourth-inning homer, his fifth of the season and first since May 25.
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Salem fell despite an outstanding effort by its trio of hurlers in a tough situation. Brandon Walter stepped in for scheduled starter Aldo Ramirez and was dominant. He allowed just two hits in four shutout innings, striking out nine without issuing a free pass. The only baserunner Robert Kwiatkowski allowed came on a hit batsman, as the right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.17. Kwiatkowski went three hitless frames, striking out a pair. Lynchburg plated the games lone run in the eighth when a single and wild pitch were followed by a Gilberto Jimemez misplay on a base hit. Though Jimenez did recover to throw the batter out at second, the unearned run off of Ryan Fernandez proved the difference. Jaxx Groshans had the most notable performance at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a double to raise his season line to .331/.457/.517.
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Player of the Day: Grant Williams has been one of the most consistent performers in the Portland lineup, and he's done it in a most un-2021 fashion. Williams' two hits on Friday raised his average to .315. What makes his season remarkable is how, with whiffs at an all-time high, the 2018 draft pick out of Kennesaw State has struck out just seven times in 135 plate appearances. That rate of 5.18% is the lowest in affiliated baseball this season.
Photo Credit: Grant Williams by Kelly O'Connor