August 7, 2022 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Granberg, Yorke with big nights, Jordan clutch for Salem
8/7 Cup of Coffee: Offense shined in the system last night, as five of the seven teams in action last night scored at least six runs. They were led by Devlin Granberg's (pictured) multiple-home-run game and Nick Yorke's big day for Greenville. Alex Binelas also had made a big impact with four RBI, and Blaze Jordan came through for Salem. Tyler Uberstine had a good start for Greenville, and there were multiple terrific performances out of the bullpen.
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Worcester Red Sox 9, Durham Bulls (TB) 1
Devlin Granberg led the Sox' nine-run offensive attack with three hits including a pair of home runs, a double, and three runs scored. Triston Casas doubled, walked, and drove in a run as well. Ronaldo Hernandez added an RBI single, and Enmanuel Valdez had another good game despite not recording a hit with a pair of walks, a sacrifice fly, and a run scored. Connor Seabold started and lasted just 3 1/3 innings, but he only gave up one run and punched out five. The bullpen was tremendous, led by Geoff Hartleib's 2 2/3 shutout innings, followed by a clean seventh by Durbin Feltman. Frank German closed it out with a couple dominant scoreless innings, striking out four without a free pass.
Devlin Granberg led the Sox' nine-run offensive attack with three hits including a pair of home runs, a double, and three runs scored. Triston Casas doubled, walked, and drove in a run as well. Ronaldo Hernandez added an RBI single, and Enmanuel Valdez had another good game despite not recording a hit with a pair of walks, a sacrifice fly, and a run scored. Connor Seabold started and lasted just 3 1/3 innings, but he only gave up one run and punched out five. The bullpen was tremendous, led by Geoff Hartleib's 2 2/3 shutout innings, followed by a clean seventh by Durbin Feltman. Frank German closed it out with a couple dominant scoreless innings, striking out four without a free pass.
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Portland Sea Dogs 6, Erie SeaWolves (DET) 5
Alex Binelas was the difference for Portland, driving in four of Portland's six runs. He delivered the big blow, a three-run home run, in the fourth inning as part of his two-hit game. Ceddanne Rafaela went 2 for 4 with a couple doubles and two runs scored. Tyler Dearden also went 2 for 4 and had a double, while Stephen Scott tripled, walked twice, and scored twice. Wilyer Abreu reached base three times as well with two walks and a single. Bryan Mata labored through 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) with six strikeouts and five walks. Oddanier Mosqueda tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings with three strikeouts and no walks, and Jacob Wallace finished it of with a scoreless ninth and two strikeouts to earn his first save.
Alex Binelas was the difference for Portland, driving in four of Portland's six runs. He delivered the big blow, a three-run home run, in the fourth inning as part of his two-hit game. Ceddanne Rafaela went 2 for 4 with a couple doubles and two runs scored. Tyler Dearden also went 2 for 4 and had a double, while Stephen Scott tripled, walked twice, and scored twice. Wilyer Abreu reached base three times as well with two walks and a single. Bryan Mata labored through 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) with six strikeouts and five walks. Oddanier Mosqueda tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings with three strikeouts and no walks, and Jacob Wallace finished it of with a scoreless ninth and two strikeouts to earn his first save.
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Rome Braves (ATL) 5, Greenville Drive 4
Nick Yorke was the bright spot in the loss for Greenville, going 3 for 5 with his seventh home run of the year in the first inning to lead off the game. Gilberto Jimenez was also 2 for 4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Niko Kavadas also reached three times with a double and two walks. Tyler Uberstine was solid on the mound, allowing just one run on two hits over five innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked two. Robert Kwiatkowski allowed three runs (one earned) in two frames, and Cody Scroggins allowed a run in his lone inning.
Nick Yorke was the bright spot in the loss for Greenville, going 3 for 5 with his seventh home run of the year in the first inning to lead off the game. Gilberto Jimenez was also 2 for 4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Niko Kavadas also reached three times with a double and two walks. Tyler Uberstine was solid on the mound, allowing just one run on two hits over five innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked two. Robert Kwiatkowski allowed three runs (one earned) in two frames, and Cody Scroggins allowed a run in his lone inning.
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Salem Red Sox 8, Fayetteville Woodpeckers (HOU) 6
Blaze Jordan delivered in the clutch with a one-out RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to break the tie. It was his 29th double of the season. Bryan Gonzalez, Karson Simas, and Tyler Miller all had two singles and an RBI. Yorberto Mejicano and Eddinson Paulino added doubles, while Marcelo Mayer went 1 for 4 with a walk. Juan Daniel Encarnacion struggled on the mound, surrendering five earned runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings. Bryan Lucas and Luis Guerrero picked him up, as Lucas fired three shutout frames with two strikeouts and Guerrero threw two hitless innings with four strikeouts and no walks to close it out.
Blaze Jordan delivered in the clutch with a one-out RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to break the tie. It was his 29th double of the season. Bryan Gonzalez, Karson Simas, and Tyler Miller all had two singles and an RBI. Yorberto Mejicano and Eddinson Paulino added doubles, while Marcelo Mayer went 1 for 4 with a walk. Juan Daniel Encarnacion struggled on the mound, surrendering five earned runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings. Bryan Lucas and Luis Guerrero picked him up, as Lucas fired three shutout frames with two strikeouts and Guerrero threw two hitless innings with four strikeouts and no walks to close it out.
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FCL Red Sox 11, FCL Twins 10
The Sox won a shootout by using a seven-run sixth inning. Miguel Bleis had another big game, going 3 for 5 and roping a two-run double in that big sixth frame. He added his fourth triple of the year as well. The fifth-ranked prospect at SoxProspects.com is 9 for 20 with six extra-base hits so far in August. Lyonell James also had a huge offensive day, going 4 for 5 with a double and two RBI. Johnfrank Salazar had two hits, including a triple, and two RBI as well. Ahbram Liendo had two hits of his own.
The Sox won a shootout by using a seven-run sixth inning. Miguel Bleis had another big game, going 3 for 5 and roping a two-run double in that big sixth frame. He added his fourth triple of the year as well. The fifth-ranked prospect at SoxProspects.com is 9 for 20 with six extra-base hits so far in August. Lyonell James also had a huge offensive day, going 4 for 5 with a double and two RBI. Johnfrank Salazar had two hits, including a triple, and two RBI as well. Ahbram Liendo had two hits of his own.
Yordanny Monegro started and surrendered four earned runs in three innings, but he did strikeout four and walk just one. Luis Talavera pitched well for four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
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DSL Red Sox Blue 2, DSL Royals Glass 0
The Blue team got some great pitching yesterday, led by Christian Nunez, who started and tossed five shutout innings while allowing just three hits. He struck out five, walked none, and lowered his ERA to 0.82 this year. Wandy Abreu and Elvis Soto threw a pair of scoreless frames each, with Soto striking out three and earning the save, his third of the year. At the plate, Marvin Alcantara and Armando Sierra each had RBI singles, which was enough to get the win. Jose Mendez hit a pinch-hit double as well. The Sox also stole five bases, including Kelvin Diaz who picked up his 20th theft.
The Blue team got some great pitching yesterday, led by Christian Nunez, who started and tossed five shutout innings while allowing just three hits. He struck out five, walked none, and lowered his ERA to 0.82 this year. Wandy Abreu and Elvis Soto threw a pair of scoreless frames each, with Soto striking out three and earning the save, his third of the year. At the plate, Marvin Alcantara and Armando Sierra each had RBI singles, which was enough to get the win. Jose Mendez hit a pinch-hit double as well. The Sox also stole five bases, including Kelvin Diaz who picked up his 20th theft.
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DSL Astros Blue 8, DSL Red Sox Red 6
Franyer Noria and Frank Astacio were each productive from the bottom of the order, as Noria went 2 for 4 with a couple runs scored and Astacio went 2 for 2 with a triple, a walk, and two runs driven in. Astacio raised his OPS to .917. Natanael Yuten also singled two times and knocked in a run. Darlyn De La Cruz started and allowed two runs (one earned) over three innings with four strikeouts and one walk. Royman Blanco was the lone bright spot of the bullpen, tossing a couple scoreless innings with one strikeout and no walks.
Franyer Noria and Frank Astacio were each productive from the bottom of the order, as Noria went 2 for 4 with a couple runs scored and Astacio went 2 for 2 with a triple, a walk, and two runs driven in. Astacio raised his OPS to .917. Natanael Yuten also singled two times and knocked in a run. Darlyn De La Cruz started and allowed two runs (one earned) over three innings with four strikeouts and one walk. Royman Blanco was the lone bright spot of the bullpen, tossing a couple scoreless innings with one strikeout and no walks.
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Player of the Day: Devlin Granberg tied his career high with 10 total bases last night. The 26-year old was drafted by Boston in 2018 in the sixth round from Dallas Baptist. Between Portland and Worcester this year, he is hitting .282/.382/.423 with 19 doubles, five triples, and four home runs.
Photo Credit: Devlin Granberg by Kelly O'Connor