September 10, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: MacKenzie, Erro lead big offensive nights for Greenville, Salem
9/10 Cup of Coffee: Worcester and Portland ran into problems with the weather, as Worcester was postponed and Portland was canceled. There was a ton of offense in the lower levels of the minors, as Greenville scored nine runs and Salem scored 13, behind great offensive performances from Wil Dalton, Jack MacKenzie, Alex Erro (pictured), and Jonathan Diaz. Cuba Bess also had a huge game for the FCL Sox.
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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) @ Worcester Red Sox, PPD (Rain)
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Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) @ Portland Sea Dogs, Canceled (Rain)
Portland was scheduled to play its first game since Saturday due to Binghamton going through COVID protocols. Unfortunately, the Sea Dogs will have to wait at least one more day, as the contest was also called due to rain. It will not be made up.
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Tyler Dearden went just 1 for 5, but he made the one count, smashing a three-run homer in the fifth inning, his 22nd long ball of the year. Wil Dalton also went deep as part of a 2-for-5 night and drove in three runs. Jake MacKenzie had a big game, going 3 for 4 with a double and a stolen base, while Jaxx Groshans and Joe Davis each picked up two hits in five trips, including a triple by Groshans. Nick Yorke singled, walked, and stole a base.
Brian Van Belle opened up the game with a pair of scoreless innings with two strikeouts. After Dylan Spacke struggled, allowing eight hits and three runs in 2 2/3 innings, Oddanier Mosqueda and Brendan Cellucci each had hitless relief appearances, with Mosqueda going 2 1/3 frames and Cellucci an inning. Each had two strikeouts.
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After a slow offensive start and trailing 1-0 after five innings, Salem exploded for 13 runs over the final four frames, including an eight-run ninth. Catcher Alex Erro led the way by going 3 for 5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Jonathan Diaz also had a big game with two hits, a double, and three RBI in five trips to the plate. Matthew Lugo tripled and singled, Nick Northcut reached four times with two knocks and two walks, and Antoni Flores ripped a two-run double. Chih-Jung Liu had a nice outing, surrendering just a run in five innings with four strikeouts and one walk. Jacob Webb tossed a scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts, while Robert Kwiatkowski had two scoreless innings of his own.
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Like Salem, the FCL Sox were also shutout through five innings, but they poured on eight runs in the final four. Cuba Bess went 2 for 3 with his second home run of the year, a double, three RBI, two runs, and two walks. Yorberto Mejicano also went deep, his third of the year, as part of a 2-for-5 performance. Daniel McElveny and Albert Feliz also had two hits each, including a double for McElveny. Angel Bastardo had a bit of a rocky start, allowing three runs (one earned) in three innings with three walks. Henry Nunez came in and dominated, tossing four hitless frames with seven strikeouts and just one free pass. Tyler Uberstine also had a good relief outing, with two scoreless innings.
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Miguel Bleis and Allan Castro were the standouts in this one, as Bleis went 3 for 5 and Castro went 2 for 5 with a home run and a walk. Kelvin Diaz also belted a home run. Jose Ramirez was tremendous on the mound, allowing just one unearned run over five innings. He struck out five and did not issue a free pass. Cesar Soto and Michael Valera each had two scoreless innings, with Valera punching out three.
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Lyonell James and Armando Sierra led the charge on offense. Sierra went 3 for 3 with a walk and two RBI, and James went 1 for 3 with his first home run of the year and a walk. Yordanny Monegro started and allowed just a run on one hit over four innings. He fanned three and walked two. Faysel Gregorio had a hitless fifth inning, while Carlos Velez tossed two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
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Player of the Day: Cuba Bess had a phenomenal game for the FCL Sox with a pair of extra-base hits and two walks. The 23-year old was a four-year college player at Grand Canyon and was signed as an undrafted free agent in June of 2020. The left-handed hitter is batting just .190 in 2021, but he has a .358 OBP and a .405 SLG, racking up 10 walks and five extra-base hits in 17 games this year.
Photo Credit: Alex Erro by Kelly O'Connor