August 26, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Munoz powers WooSox; Yorke goes deep for Drive
-----
The Worcester lineup brought a power surge to Western New York, delivering a 15-hit attack that included five home runs. Yairo Munoz and Joey Meneses both went deep twice for the WooSox. Munoz hit a solo homer in the first and another in the fourth as part of a 4-for-5 game that also included three RBI and three runs scored. Meneses joined Munoz going deep in the first, then hit another solo blast in the eighth. Connor Wong had Worcester's other round-tripper, going back to back with Meneses in the first. Wong added a double, raising his slugging average to .507 since the start of July. Jonathan Arauz had a three-hit night, while Jeter Downs and Josh Ockimey picked up a double apiece.
Kyle Hart got credit for the win, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits in five innings. Austin Brice struck out three in two scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 1.90 on the year. After a strong Triple-A debut following his early-July promotion, Jose Adames has seemingly hit the wall in August. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits, giving him 11 runs allowed on 15 hits in six frames this month.
-----
Portland fell short in Wednesday's slugfest despite a four-run eighth-inning rally. Cameron Cannon was a catalyst at the plate with a 2-for-5 evening that included a three-run homer in the fifth. Kole Cottam also went deep for the Sea Dogs, blasting a two-run shot as part of that rally in the eighth. Triston Casas did not record a hit but did draw three walks. Frank German took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Rio Gomez and Joan Martinez continue to be bright spots in the Portland 'pen. Gomez had his 12th consecutive scoreless appearance, going 2 1/3 hitless frames. Martinez struck out a pair in a perfect ninth inning. He has yet to allow a run in August and has struck out 46 batters in 31 2/3 innings on the year.
-----
The theater has changed, but The Nick Yorke Show does not seem to have missed a cue. The 2020 first-round pick blasted his first High-A home run. The two-run eighth-inning round-tripper was his second hit of the night, the second day in a row since his promotion that Yorke has submitted a 2-for-5 line. He is hitting .417/.500/.833 with eight homers in August across two levels of play. The other white-hot member of the Greenville lineup recently promoted from Salem, Stephen Scott completed the more difficult half of the cycle, delivering a triple and a home run and driving a pair of runs home. Not to be overshadowed was an excellent performance by starting pitcher Yunsiel Padron-Artiles. The native of Cuba gave up just one hit and one unearned run on one hit in six innings, striking out eight and walking a pair.
-----
The Salem bats, silent for much of the night, came alive in a seven-run, five-hit seventh inning that also included a pair of walks and a key error. Ceddanne Rafaela had the key hit of the rally, a two-run blast that knotted the game at 3-3 and seemed to open the floodgates. Nick Decker doubled as part of a two-hit night, while Gilberto Jimenez was 1 for 4 with a pair of RBI. Shane Drohan got the start, allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in 4 2/3. He struck out a pair but struggled with his control, walking three and throwing just 40 of his 80 pitches for strikes. Joey Stock was outstanding in relief, giving up just one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win. Stock struck out five without issuing a free pass. Jacinto Arredondo did not give up a run in his two innings of work to finish off the win.
-----
Player of the Day: It may seem like this recognition keeps getting passed between Yairo Munoz, Nick Yorke, and Stephen Scott, and while Yorke and Scott both had games that would often get the nod, a four-hit, two-home run effort by Munoz earned the spotlight, ending a 1 for 12 skid in four games since his 35-game hitting streak ended. Since the start of July, the former St. Louis Cardinal is hitting .385/.415/.559 with 62 hits in 40 games.
Photo Credit: Yairo Munoz by Kelly O'Connor