August 14, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Munoz extends hitting streak to 34, tying record
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It was a tough loss to take in the opener, as the WooSox squandered an 8-0 lead, allowing 10 unanswered runs by the Syracuse lineup. Kyle Hart turned in four scoreless frames, giving up just two hits despite not striking out a batter. Eight of the 12 outs he recorded came on ground balls, and he needed just 43 pitches to get through the four frames. Ryan Brasier struggled badly in his second rehab appearance, surrendering five runs in 2/3 of an inning. Kaleb Ort took the loss, giving up four runs in the seventh. The decisive blow against Ort was a three-run go-ahead pinch-hit homer by Josh Reddick in his Syracuse debut.
Yairo Munoz extended his hitting streak to 33 games with a first-inning single and went on to go 3 for 4 with a stolen base in the opener. Jeter Downs halted a gruesome 0-for-28 skid, going 2 for 3 with a walk.
Worcester tried to flip the script in the nightcap, mounting a rally after an early 5-0 deficit. Though the comeback fell short in the seventh, history was made. After a pair of groundouts and a walk, Munoz pulled a hard grounder that knocked off the glove of the third baseman for an infield single, extending his streak to 34 games. Ryan Fitzgerald blasted a three-run homer off of old friend Zack Godley, his third since his promotion from Portland and 12th of the season. John Schreiber was saddled with the loss, giving up one run in 2 1/3. Stephen Gonsalves struggled out of the bullpen, giving up four runs on four hits in 2 1/3, striking out three against two walks.
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The win over Somerset moves Portland into first place by a 1/2 game. Victor Santos set the tone with a strong start, going five innings and allowing just one run on a solo homer by Double-A Northeast league leader Dermis Garcia. Santos surrendered just three hits, walked one, and struck out three. He has an even 3.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts and two walks in four appearances since coming over from the Phillies. Rio Gomez was a standout in relief, twirling three scoreless frames. Triston Casas was 1 for 4 with a run scored and a steal. Jeisson Rosario doubled as part of a two-hit night. Hudson Potts, who joined Rosario coming to the organization in last summer's Mitch Moreland deal, picked up the Sea Dogs other two-base hit. Roldani Baldwin launched his third homer of the year, a second-inning solo shot.
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It was a wild, back-and-forth contest in Bowling Green, as Greenville scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to secure the comeback. Stephen Scott continues to lay waste to High-A, going 2 for 3 with a pair of walks, run scored, and a stolen base. Scott has hit safely in each of his 12 games since his promotion to the Drive, with a slash line of .438/.491/.896. Brandon Howlett showed signs of emerging from his slump, going 3 for 5 with a two-run homer, his 13th of the season. Nick Sogard connected on a fourth-inning grand slam, his ninth round-tripper of the year. Yusniel Padron-Artiles struggled, surrendering eight runs in 4 1/3 innings. He gave up four home runs on the night, including three to left fielder Hill Alexander. The bullpen was nearly flawless, as Jose Espada pitched 3 2/3 innings without giving up a hit, striking out five and walking one. Brandon Nail pitched a perfect ninth for the save, striking out a pair.
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Salem Red Sox @ Fredericksburg Nationals (WAS), Postponed
The Low-A East finally found a way to stop Nick Yorke. The two teams will try for a doubleheader on Saturday.
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The FCL Sox fell despite another big effort from Miguel Ugueto. The right fielder scored two runs and recorded his eighth double of the season as part of a 3-for-4 afternoon. Eddinson Paulino also continues to be a standout, going 1 for 3 with a walk and two RBO. Niko Kavadas recorded his first professional extra-base hit with his eighth-inning double. Reliever Eduard Bazardo made his return to the mound in a rehab appearance. The 25-year-old, out since May with a lat strain, worked a hitless fifth inning, striking out three and walking one. Reidis Sena was excellent in relief, allowing just two hits in three scoreless innings, striking out five without issuing a walk. Starter Henry Nunez took the loss, surrendering four runs in 2 2/3.
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Team Blue was held to just two hits in the opener by their Cubs Blue counterparts. Ronny Ramirez had the team's only extra-base hit, a triple that was also the first hit of Ramirez's pro career. Jhostynxon Garcia went hitless but did reach base twice via base on balls and scored a run. Barbaro Pinero made the spot start, allowing three runs on three hits in four innings, walking one, and striking out four.
The Cubs completed the sweep despite a strong start by Sox righty Jedixson Paez. The 17-year-old out of Venezuela allowed one run on three hits in five innings, striking out four against just one walk. Cubs pitching again silenced Sox hitters, limiting them to three hits. Alexandri Alvarez had the most notable performance at the plate, picking up a triple, working a walk, and scoring the team's lone run.
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The Red squad had more success, sweeping their doubleheader against yet another Blue team. Miguel Bleis returned to the lineup for the first time since August 7 and picked up where he left off, going 2 for 2 with a double. Bleis is 8 for 16 with three doubles and a homer in five August contests. Allan Castro and Luis Ravelo had two hits apiece, with Castro's eighth-inning single driving in the walk-off game-winner. Francis Hernandez spun five excellent innings, surrendering a third-inning solo homer for the Indians' only run of the game. Hernandez gave up just two hits, struck out four, and walked one. Luis Talavera earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief.
The Sox needed just three hits to complete the sweep. They took advantage of some wildness from the Indians pitching staff, scoring four runs during a fifth-inning rally that included five walks and four wild pitches. Miguel Rojas was one of three players who walked three times on the day. He also added a single and a run scored. Starter Simon Pacheco allowed two runs in three innings of work, while Frailyn Sanchez and Jesus Rosillo combined for three innings of scoreless relief to secure the win.
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Player of the Day: A player making history like Yairo Munoz will always have the leg up in the narrative department, but Munoz's day itself merits acknowledgment. He went 4 for 7 in the doubleheader with a walk, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. During the 34-game streak, Munoz has compiled 56 hits and a .400/.429/.550 slash line. The four hits today give him 98 for the season
Photo Credit: Yairo Munoz by Kelly O'Connor