July 18, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Bonaci hits grand slam, weather shortens night everywhere
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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 0, Worcester Red Sox 0
Due to the rain storm in the area, this game was suspended in the top of the second and will be completed July 18. Marcus Walden is on the mound, while Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has runners on first and second with nobody out. Max McDowell is at the plate. Yairo Munoz has the only hit for Worcester.
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Portland was ahead after eight innings when the game succumbed to the large rain system pelting the Northeast. Each Portland hitter earned a hit, with Devlin Granberg, who hit a two-run homer, notching the 10th Sea Dog hit. That homer came in the fifth and helped the visitors withstand a three-run bottom of the fifth and escape with the lead. Earning the start was Brayan Bello, who was uneven in 4 2/3 innings of work, albeit in tough weather. He allowed four runs on five hits, though he did strike out nine batters against one walk. However, Rio Gomez, Zach Schellenger, Joan Martinez and Zack Kelly shut the door on Reading, scattering just two hits over the final 3 1/3 innings, with Schellenger earning the win and Kelly striking out each batter he faced in the eighth.
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Greenville Drive vs. Asheville Tourists (HOU) (PPD, Lightning)
The weather was not limited to the Northeast, as Greenville and Asheville were unable to begin their game due to lightning in the area. It will be made up July 18 as part of a doubleheader.
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Salem scored a pair of runs in the third to take the lead, but it didn't hold up, as Fayetteville scored one in the fourth to tie the game, which eventually went to extras after being delayed by rain. After Salem got the winning run to third in the 10th, Fayetteville exploded for five runs in the 11th and was able to come away with the win. Ceddane Rafaela had two hits, while Stephen Scott had a pair of RBI. Devon Roedahl was impressive on the mound, delivering three inning of no-hit ball in relief, though he did walk a batter. Jeremy Wu-Yelland was the starter and he was only able to go 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits. He did strike out three batters, however.
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The Red Sox came out hot, scoring eight runs on just two hits, including a grand slam by Brainer Bonaci after he as hit by a pitch to lead off the game. They followed that effort up with four more scores in the second and coasted to victory. Bonaci added a single and a walk to make it a 2-for-5 day, a line matched by Bryan Gonzalez, who had a deep fly of his own, as well. Naysbel Marcano led the way in the hit column, going 3 for 4. Overall, the Red Sox notched 14 hits, 12 walks and were hit by four pitches. Meanwhile, Connor Seabold made his second rehab appearance, pitching three shutout innings. He surrendered two hits, did not walk a batter and notched five strikeouts. Cole Milam gave up a run in the fifth and did not record an out after a clean fourth, but Juan Daniel Encarnacion handled the final five innings, earning the win. He allowed two hits, an unearned run and registered six punchouts against zero walks.
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The two DSL teams played one another on Saturday, as they will each Saturday this season, with Blue coming out on top. Alex Zapete and Miguel Rojas each pumped out two hits, which was half of their team's output. However, Blue also worked seven walks and took advantage of three errors to double up Red's score. Meanwhile, Red had multi-hit games from Allan Castro, Enderso Lira, Albertson Asigen and Elvys Castro. The game was close throughout the early and middle stages of the contest, but Blue burst out to a six-run seventh and added two in the ninth. The first five Blue batters reached base in the seventh, giving the team positive momentum and 10 hitters would head to the plate. Michael Valera stood out on the mound, throwing three one-hit, shutout innings for Red. He was the only Red pitcher to not allow a run, while Henry Morales, who pitched a clean ninth for Blue, was the only arm on his squad to exit without a tally on their tab.
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Player of the Day: A grand slam amid an offensive onslaught in Florida was able to earn player of the day honors. Brainer Bonaci, No. 13 in the rankings, drilled a grand slam as part of the FCL's eight-run first inning, the second time he arrived at the plate in that frame, after he was hit by a pitch. Bonaci also added a single and a walk as part of his afternoon in Fort Myers, helping lead his team to a dominating victory. The Venezuelan product has been relatively cold to start the FCL season, with a .176/.364/.324 line, but he has only had 34 at-bats across nine games in his stateside debut.
Photo Credit: Brainer Bonaci by Kelly O'Connor