July 24, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Wu-Yelland perfect for Salem; Seabold joins WooSox
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Two hurlers struggled in their highly-anticipated debuts for the WooSox. Connor Seabold, acquired last summer in the deal for Brandon Workman and out for the first 10 weeks of the season with right elbow inflammation, was activated before the game after a pair of rehab starts in the FCL. The organization's sixth-ranked prospect allowed six runs (three earned) on three hits in 3 1/3 innings, taking the loss. Though the Worcester defense let him down with four errors, Seabold did himself no favors with his control as he walked four batters while striking out one. Durbin Feltman also made his first appearance out of the Worcester bullpen after his promotion from Portland earlier in the day. The 2018 third-round pick surrendered three runs on four hits, including a two-run homer, in his two innings of work. At the plate, Tate Matheny blasted a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the WooSox a crooked number. Connor Wong and Chad De Le Guerra both doubled as part of 2-for-5 nights.
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A day after their 15-game winning streak was snapped, the Sea Dogs had a wild comeback to get back into the win column. Brayan Bello got the start and allowed two runs on three hits in the first inning. Unfortuantely, a rain delay prevented Bello from getting a chance to settle in, so he gave way to Rio Gomez. Gomez did yeoman's work to keep Portland in the contest, firing four shutout innings, scattering three hits, and striking out six without walking a batter.
It was fitting that Jhonny Pereda scored the winning run to cap off his outstanding night. Pereda reached base five times, going 3 for 3 with two doubles, two walks, and two runs scored. Ryan Fitzgerald picked up his organization-leading 24th double in the 10th, setting up Tanner Nishioka's game-winning single that plated Pereda. Extra innings looked unlikely headed into the ninth with Portland trailing 5-1. Nick Sogard, promoted from Greenville earlier in the day, played a key role, driving in a run with a single to right and scoring on a two-run single by Tyreque Reed.
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After nine innings of evenly matched play, Greenville needed just one pitch in extra innings to come away with the win. Jake McKenzie made his Drive debut, pinch-running for Joe Davis as the automatic runner in the 10th. His speed would not be necessary, as Kole Cottam one-hopped the rightfield wall for a walkoff ground rule double. It was only the fourth hit of the evening for the Drive. Cameron Cannon had two of those, including his 22nd double of the year, in addition to a walk. Chase Shugart turned in a strong start, allowing one run on two hits in five innings, striking out six and walking two. Cody Scroggins performed the high-wire act for the victory, walking two batters to load the bases in the 10th but getting away unscathed.
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Jeremy Wu-Yelland was the story on Friday, firing four perfect innings as the Salem starter. Wu-Yelland struck out seven of the 12 batters he faced and threw 38 of 53 pitches for strikes. Nate Tellier followed with two additional hitless innings that included four strikeouts, though he lost the perfect game with pair of walks. Nick Yorke continues to be a catalyst, going 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk to extend his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 26 straight. After Yorke broke out in June with a .348/.446/.507 line he has improved to .382/.478/.564 in July. Nick Northcut hit a first-inning grand slam as Salem got out to a lead it would never relinquish. It was the eighth round-tripper of the season for Northcut.
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The Sox churned out a 14-hit attack while winning for the ninth time in 10 contests. Blaze Jordan got the scoring started with a three-run blast in the third inning off of rehabbing former major leaguer Sean Gilmartin. Jordan followed that up with a bases-loaded triple, giving him six RBI on the afternoon. Freddy Valdez doubled as part of a two-hit effort, while Brainer Bonaci was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored. Nathanael Cruz made his first professional start, going two shutout innings, allowing one hit, and striking out one without issuing a walk. Henry Nunez allowed two hits in 3 2/3 shutout innings, striking out five and walking four.
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Little went right for the Red team on Friday, as the offense generated only two hits while the pitching staff issued 11 walks. Helison Mota and Axel James picked up the hits, and both players added a walk on the day. Starter Cesar Ruiz cruised through three scoreless innings but ran into trouble in the fourth, surrendering four runs without retiring a batter. Andres Ortuno was a highlight on the mound, striking out two in his 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief.
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Team Blue had a much better day than their DSL counterparts, running their record to 7-2. Jhostynxson Garcia had a double, triple, walk, and two runs scored to key the offense. Alex Zapete had a three-hit day while Juan Chacon was 2 for 3 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Johnfrank Salazar was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. The 17-year-old shortstop is now 10 for 25 on the young season. Starter Stiwar Adames allowed one run in three innings before giving way to three shutout frames for Irving Medina.
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Player of the Day: It's impossible to be any more effective than Jeremy Wu-Yelland was in Salem's victory. Wu-Yelland retired all 12 batters he faced, seven with strikeouts. It's the second time in three outings that the University of Hawaii product went four hitless innings. Opposing batters are hitting just .172, and he now has 53 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings. Wu-Yelland was Boston's pick in the fourth round of the 2020 draft and is ranked 36th in the system.
Photo Credit: Connor Seabold by Kelly O'Connor