April 17, 2022 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Rafaela, Lugo stay hot for Greenville
4/17 Cup of Coffee: There were some great offensive performances throughout the system, as Worcester scored 13 and Greenville put up nine. Triston Casas, Ryan Fitzgerald, and Franchy Cordero led the way yet again against the IronPigs. Ceddanne Rafaela (pictured) hit two home runs and Matthew Lugo picked up four hits for the Drive. Darwinzon Hernandez, Brandon Walter, and Gabriel Jackson turned in great performances on the mound.
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Worcester Red Sox 13, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 1
Triston Casas showed that he's more than just a big time power bat, going 3 for 4 with three hard-hit singles and three runs scored to lead Worcester's 15-hit attack. Roberto Ramos went 2 for 2 with his third long ball of the year, while Rob Refsnyder doubled and homered as well. Ryan Fitzgerald and Franchy Cordero just keep on hitting, as each collected two hits, with Fitzgerald roping his second triple and Cordero notching his fifth double.
Darwinzon Hernandez started and was tremendous for three innings, allowing no runs on just one hit with five strikeouts. Kyle Hart went the next four, surrendering just a lone unearned run with five strikeouts of his own. Silvino Bracho and Geoff Hartlieb each struck out the side without allowing a run in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
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Harrisburg Senators (WAS) 1, Portland Sea Dogs 0
Brandon Walter started and was terrific, but the Portland bats went cold, mustering just three hits and getting shut out. Walter tossed six scoreless frames while allowing just three hits. He struck out five and did not issue a walk. He has not allowed a run this season in a pair of starts, and has given up just four hits in 11 innings. Joan Martinez threw a clean ninth with two strikeouts. At the plate, Kole Cottam hit his third double, and that's pretty much where the highlights end. Cameron Cannon and Brandon Howlett added singles.
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Greenville Drive 9, Asheville Tourists (HOU) 6
Ceddanne Rafaela stayed hot and carried the Greenville offense in a slugfest win. The 21-year old went 3 for 5 and belted a pair of home runs, giving him five on the young season. Matthew Lugo also stayed scorching hot, going 4 for 5 with two doubles and a triple to raise his batting average to .515. Joe Davis added his second home run as part of a 2-for-4 night. Wyatt Olds labored through 3 2/3 innings, walking four and allowing three hits, but he managed to allow just one earned run with five strikeouts. Casey Cobb picked up the win, allowing a run in 2 1/3 frames. Michael Gettys also had a clean inning in the seventh.
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Salem Red Sox 5, Fayetteville Woodpeckers (HOU) 3
Miguel Ugueto followed up a four-hit game two nights ago with three more hits, including two doubles, last night. Eddinson Paulino crushed his first home run of the year, drove in two, and scored twice. Tyler Miller added a single and a double. Gabriel Jackson was phenomenal for the first four innings, allowing just two hits and no runs with five strikeouts and no walks. Miguel Suero closed out the final three innings to earn the win. He did not allow a run and struck out three.
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Player of the Day: In his first season in Greenville, Ceddanne Rafaela has broken out at the plate. He is hitting .421/.450/.921 with four doubles, five home runs, and 10 RBI. He has also played two premier positions on the diamond, starting six games at shortstop and one game in center field.
Photo Credit: Ceddanne Rafaela by Kelly O'Connor
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Worcester Red Sox 13, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 1
Triston Casas showed that he's more than just a big time power bat, going 3 for 4 with three hard-hit singles and three runs scored to lead Worcester's 15-hit attack. Roberto Ramos went 2 for 2 with his third long ball of the year, while Rob Refsnyder doubled and homered as well. Ryan Fitzgerald and Franchy Cordero just keep on hitting, as each collected two hits, with Fitzgerald roping his second triple and Cordero notching his fifth double.
Darwinzon Hernandez started and was tremendous for three innings, allowing no runs on just one hit with five strikeouts. Kyle Hart went the next four, surrendering just a lone unearned run with five strikeouts of his own. Silvino Bracho and Geoff Hartlieb each struck out the side without allowing a run in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
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Harrisburg Senators (WAS) 1, Portland Sea Dogs 0
Brandon Walter started and was terrific, but the Portland bats went cold, mustering just three hits and getting shut out. Walter tossed six scoreless frames while allowing just three hits. He struck out five and did not issue a walk. He has not allowed a run this season in a pair of starts, and has given up just four hits in 11 innings. Joan Martinez threw a clean ninth with two strikeouts. At the plate, Kole Cottam hit his third double, and that's pretty much where the highlights end. Cameron Cannon and Brandon Howlett added singles.
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Greenville Drive 9, Asheville Tourists (HOU) 6
Ceddanne Rafaela stayed hot and carried the Greenville offense in a slugfest win. The 21-year old went 3 for 5 and belted a pair of home runs, giving him five on the young season. Matthew Lugo also stayed scorching hot, going 4 for 5 with two doubles and a triple to raise his batting average to .515. Joe Davis added his second home run as part of a 2-for-4 night. Wyatt Olds labored through 3 2/3 innings, walking four and allowing three hits, but he managed to allow just one earned run with five strikeouts. Casey Cobb picked up the win, allowing a run in 2 1/3 frames. Michael Gettys also had a clean inning in the seventh.
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Salem Red Sox 5, Fayetteville Woodpeckers (HOU) 3
Miguel Ugueto followed up a four-hit game two nights ago with three more hits, including two doubles, last night. Eddinson Paulino crushed his first home run of the year, drove in two, and scored twice. Tyler Miller added a single and a double. Gabriel Jackson was phenomenal for the first four innings, allowing just two hits and no runs with five strikeouts and no walks. Miguel Suero closed out the final three innings to earn the win. He did not allow a run and struck out three.
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Player of the Day: In his first season in Greenville, Ceddanne Rafaela has broken out at the plate. He is hitting .421/.450/.921 with four doubles, five home runs, and 10 RBI. He has also played two premier positions on the diamond, starting six games at shortstop and one game in center field.
Photo Credit: Ceddanne Rafaela by Kelly O'Connor