August 4, 2021 at 6:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Yorke, Jimenez, and Blalock lead Salem
8/4 Cup of Coffee: Tremendous pitching performances from Kutter Crawford, Brandon Walter, and Bradley Blalock (pictured) led three of the affiliates to victory. All three pitchers struck out at least eight, and Brayan Bello was having similar success before scuffling in the sixth inning. Yairo Muñoz is approaching history with his hitting streak, while Nick Yorke is doing his best to prove he is ready for the jump to Greenville.
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It was the second straight quality start for Kutter Crawford in Worcester. Crawford allowed just one hit and struck out nine over five innings. He walked three and surrendered just one run. This was the first time in 12 games this season that he walked more than two batters. Zack Kelly followed with two innings, striking out four and allowing one run. It was only the fifth time in 23 appearances that Kelly allowed a run.
A fourth-inning single extended Yairo Muñoz's hitting streak to 25 games. This ties Jacoby Ellsbury for the longest hit streak in Red Sox Triple-A history. The number eight and nine hitters both homered, with Jett Bandy and Ryan Fitzgerald going deep. Fitzgerald finished the day 3 for 5. Josh Ockimey and Jeremy Rivera each went 3 for 4 with a walk, and Rivera added a stolen base.
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Brayan Bello was cruising until the sixth inning when Binghamton got to him for three runs. In all, he gave up four runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out five. The game was broken open in the eighth when Dominic LoBrutto gave up four runs on four hits. Devlin Granberg had two of Portland's five hits, going 2 for 4 with his fourth steal. Jeisson Rosario went 1 for 2 with a double and a walk. The double was his first extra-base hit since July 18.
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After an uninspiring first four starts with the Drive, Brandon Walter turned things around on Tuesday. The left-hander struck out eight over six innings of one-run ball while walking just one. Walter was the SoxProspects.com Pitcher of the Month in June for Salem. Dylan Spacke picked up where Walter left off, striking out four in two shutout innings. Brendan Cellucci added three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.
The offense for Greenville centered around Elih Marrero who went 3 for 3 with three doubles and three RBI. Stephen Scott went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored, and Cameron Cannon went 1 for 4 with a stolen base.
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Bradley Blalock allowed just an unearned run over five innings, walking two and striking out eight. He has given up just two runs over his last 15 innings. Casey Cobb has also been hot, striking out four over two scoreless innings. The outing lowered his ERA to 1.97. Nate Tellier walked four in 2/3 of an inning, but Miguel Suero was able to leave the bases loaded.
Nick Yorke once again paced the offense, going 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI. He is now hitting .368 over his last 31 games. Gilberto Jimenez also went 3 for 5 with a double, and Nick Northcut went 2 for 4 with a walk.
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FCL Red Sox @ FCL Orioles Black, PPD (rain)
Tuesday's game was rained out, and it will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday.
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A walk-off single from Jhostynxon Garcia capped off a four-run comeback for the Blue squad. Garcia went 2 for 6 with a double, Alexis Hernandez went 2 for 4 with a double and a home run, and Juan Chacon went 2 for 4 with two walks and a stolen base. The Red Sox managed to win despite the pitching staff allowing 14 hits and 10 walks. Starter Stiwar Adames allowed one run in two innings, and Railin Perez and Robinson Parra combined to keep the Dodgers scoreless over the final 2 1/3 innings to seal the victory.
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Rain cut this one short with the Red Sox managing only three hits. Miguel Bleis went 1 for 2 but was caught stealing for the first time in four attempts. Simon Pacheco allowed two runs on one hit and two walks, and Efren Diaz allowed two runs over three innings.
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Player of the Day: You can take your pick of the pitching performances, but Bradley Blalock edged out Crawford and Walter. The 20-year-old opened the year with a strong May but took a step back in June and the first half of July. He is in the midst of his best stretch of the season, with an ERA of just 1.20 over his last 15 innings. He's walked three and struck out 14, including a career-high eight on Tuesday night.
Photo Credit: Bradley Blalock by Kelly O'Connor