July 17, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: German, Scherff lead Sea Dogs to 11th straight
-----
Worcester fell to Scranton for a second straight game despite a big night from Franchy Cordero. The leftfielder went 2 for 3 with a double, two walks, stolen base, RBI, and a run scored. Yairo Munoz had three hits and swiped a pair of bases, Danny Santana started his rehab stint, going 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Scranton connected for three home runs off of starter Steven Gonsalves. Overall he allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in six innings, striking out nine. Jose Adames was a bright spot out of the Worcester bullpen, striking out one in a perfect ninth. Adams has not yet allowed a run in four appearances since hit promotion from Portland.
-----
The Sea Dogs made it 11 in a row as Frank German continues his resurgence. He allowed one run on three hits in five innings, striking out five and walking three. After struggling through May with an 8.37 ERA, German has a 3.86 mark in 35 innings since the calendar flipped to June. The bullpen took over with four straight scoreless frames to secure the win. The most impressive of the group was Alex Scherff, striking out three in two perfect innings. Devlin Granberg and Ronaldo Hernandez both homered in their respective 2-for-4 efforts. Tyreque Reed did not record a hit in his first taste of Double-A, but the first baseman recorded a pair of walks.
-----
Christian Koss continued to torture Asheville from his leadoff spot. After going 3 for 5 with a double, Koss is now 12 for 19 for the series and 22 for his last 48 overall. Nick Sogard reached base four times with two hits and two walks, and Dom D'Alessandro blasted a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Chris Murphy allowed three runs on five hits in six innings, striking out nine, walking two, and surrendering two home runs. Just as in the Portland victory, the bullpen was unhittable as a trio of Drive relievers went a hitless inning apiece.
-----
Salem's rally came up just short after falling into an early 7-0 hole. The Woodpeckers reached Bradley Blalock for five runs on six hits in four innings, saddling the right-hander with the loss. Stephen Scott led the rally with a pair of doubles, driving in one run and scoring another. Nick Northcut also tallied two doubles, while Nick Yorke continues to be a catalyst at the top of the order, as he doubled, was hit by a pitch, and delivered a sacrifice fly. Yorke has reached safely in 21 straight games, raising his OBP from .311 to .381. Gilberto Jimenez extended his hitting streak to eight games with an eighth-inning single.
-----
After an 0-5 start, the FCL squad won its fifth straight to climb back to the .500 mark. Michael Ugueto continued his hot start, going 3 for 4 with a double, stolen base, and run scored. One of the few 2019 international free agents to be assigned stateside, Ugueto is 8 for 24 with an .860 OPS. Eduardo Vaughan hit his first home run of the season, a fifth-inning solo shot. Henry Nunez was solid in his start, allowing two runs (one earned) on just one hit in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three.
-----
Team Red built up an early 6-0 lead and held on as the Astros rallied. Allan Castro tripled and drove in two runs as part of a 3-for-5 effort. An insurance run in the form of a fifth-inning solo homer by Kevin Garcia proved to be the difference. It was the first professional homer for Garcia. Starlin Santos got the start, allowing four runs on four hits in three innings. Victor De Leon pitched around three walks in 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.
-----
Despite walking 10 batters, the Blue squad's staff limited the Pirates to just three hits to come away with the victory. All three hits came off of starter Jean Carlos Reyes, who gave up one run in 2 2/3 frames, striking out three and walking one. Ronald Rosario led the way at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a run scored. Axel James doubled as part of a two-hit effort, while Johnfrank Salazar continued his hot start with a double and a walk.
-----
Player of the Day: Frank German gets the nod here, partially for his performance on Friday and partially for the way he has turned his season around in general. Things got off to a brutal start for the right-hander acquired in the deal that also brought Adam Ottavino from the Yankees. In five May starts, German allowed 26 runs (16 earned) in 17 innings, allowing a .658 slugging percentage, surrendering six homers, and walking more batters (12) than he struck out (nine). After a strong start to open June, the Queens, NY product has been better across the board. Across eight starts he has given up 15 runs in 35 innings (3.86 ERA), struck out 35, walked only 10, and opponents have a paltry .086 isolated slugging.
Photo Credit: Alex Scherff by Kelly O'Connor