April 24, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Chacon caps off strong week with another multi-hit game
-----
In Game 1 of Sunday's twin bill, Brandon Walter made his fourth start of the season for Worcester. The 26-year-old left-hander yielded five runs (two earned) on six hits, one walk, and one hit batsman to go along with two strikeouts over five-plus innings of work. Of the 90 pitches he threw, 57 went for strikes. Oddanier Mosqueda took over for Walter with no outs in the sixth and allowed one of the runners he inherited to score before ending the inning.
All four of Worcester's runs came in the top of the first off opposing starter T.J. Zeuch. David Hamilton opened the scoring with a leadoff home run before Bobby Dalbec, Wilyer Abreu, and Enmanuel Valdez all reached to fill the bases. Dalbec scored on a Niko Goodrum RBI single, Abreu scored when Daniel Palka grounded into a double play, and Valdez scored on another RBI base hit from Greg Allen. Hamilton went 1 for 4 with his fourth home run of the season. Abreu went 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk.
-----
Bryan Mata was not at his best in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader. Making his fourth start of the season for Worcester, the 23-year-old righty surrendered four earned runs on five hits and three walks to go along with just one strikeout over 2 1/3 innings of work. Half of those runs came on a two-run homer from Jordan Qsar in the bottom of the second. Mata otherwise needed 76 pitches (44 strikes) to record seven outs as his ERA on the year rose to 6.91. Out of the WooSox bullpen, Norwith Gudino allowed one run and Joe Jacques allowed none before Chase Shugart got tagged for four in the bottom of the sixth.
Offensively, all three of Worcester's runs in Game 2 came in the top of the fourth. Palka drove in one by flying into a force out with the bases loaded and Ronaldo Hernandez plated the other two on a two-run single. Ryan Fitzgerald (2 for 3 with a double) was the only member of the WooSox lineup to record an extra-base hit and a multi-hit game.
-----
The Sea Dogs improved to 11-4 on the back of another strong start from Sterling Sharp. The 27-year-old right-hander allowed just one run on three hits, four walks, and three strikeouts over six solid innings. He finished with 84 pitches (47 strikes) and picked up his first winning decision of the season. In relief of Sharp, Brendan Nail scattered two hits across two scoreless innings and Luis Guerrero retired the side in order in the top of the ninth.
Edwin Diaz opened the scoring for Portland by hitting a solo home run (his first of the season) in the third inning. Stephen Scott scored on a wild pitch in the fourth and then drove in his side's third run of the game on an RBI single in the eighth. Tyler McDonough followed with a two-run triple before Diaz capped off the four-run inning by plating McDonough on an RBI groundout. Scott went 1 for 2 with an RBI, a run scored, two walks, and his first stolen base of the year. Phillip Sikes also swiped one bag while going 3 for 4 with a walk out of the leadoff spot.
-----
Isaac Coffey could be considered a tough-luck loser after registering a quality start for Greenville on Sunday. The 22-year-old righty allowed two earned runs on four hits and no walks to go along with eight strikeouts over six innings. Both of those runs came on a pair of solo shots from Jase Bowen in the fourth and sixth innings. Of the 70 pitches Coffey threw, though, 53 went for strikes. Out of the Drive bullpen, Nate Tellier and Jaret Godman each surrendered one run in the seventh and eighth, respectively.
Greenville's lone run came on a Max Ferguson solo home run with one out in the top of the fourth. Blaze Jordan accounted for his side's only other hit by singling in that same inning. Ferguson's homer was his first of the season. The 23-year-old second baseman/center fielder also drew a walk to raise his on-base percentage to .434.
-----
Salem plated 10 runs on Sunday without leaving the yard once. Juan Chacon led the way by going 2 for 4 with a double, two RBIs, one run scored, and one stolen base. Fellow outfielder Allan Castro also doubled and stole a base as part of a 2 for 5 afternoon at the plate in which he scored twice. Cutter Coffey swiped one bag as well while going 2 for 4 with a walk and run scored. Lyonell James drove in two runs while Miguel Bleis and Luis Ravelo each scored twice.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz was rather sharp in his third start of the season for Salem. The former fourth-round draft selection went five full innings, yielding just one earned run on four hits, two walks, and four strikeouts on 78 pitches (52 strikes). Out of the Red Sox bullpen, Luis De La Rosa, Michael Valera, and Brock Bell combined for four scoreless frames of relief.
-----
Player of the Day: With his second multi-hit game in four days, Juan Chacon now finds himself batting .270/.451/.459 with eight RBIs, eight runs scored, six stolen bases, 11 walks, and 10 strikeouts in his first 12 games (51 plate appearances) with Salem this season. The right-handed hitting 20-year-old originally signed with Boston for $900,000 as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in July 2019.
Photo Credit: Juan Chacon by Kelly O'Connor