May 4, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Mayer homers, finishes triple shy of cycle as part of four-hit performance
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Worcester Red Sox, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) (PPD)
Due to inclement weather within the vicinity of Polar Park, Wednesday's contest between Worcester and Buffalo was postponed. It will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Saturday. With another doubleheader scheduled for Thursday, the WooSox are now slated to play six games over the next four days.
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After getting rained out in Akron on Tuesday, Portland failed to score a run and mustered just three hits as a team in a shutout loss on Wednesday. Niko Kavadas, Matthew Lugo, and Tyler McDonough all singled. McDonough, reigning SoxProspects.com Player of the Month Nick Yorke, Stephen Scott, and Christian Koss each drew a walk.
Brian Van Belle went five innings in his fourth start of the season for Portland. The 26-year-old righty allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks to go along with three strikeouts over five innings of work. Of the 87 pitches he threw, 56 went for strikes. In relief of Van Belle, Skylar Arias got tagged for four runs in the sixth inning while Dylan Spacke and Ryan Fernandez combined for 2 1/3 scoreless frames.
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Marcelo Mayer led the way offensively for Greenville by recording the second four-hit game of his pro career. The shortstop went 4 for 5 with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored out of the three-hole. His double-play partner, Chase Meidroth, went 3 for 5 with a double, one RBI, and two runs scored out of the two-hole. Bryan Gonzalez also contributed to the scoring with a three-run home run in the second inning that was immediately followed by Tyler Miller's first big fly of the year. Miller, Miguel Ugueto, Eddinson Paulino, and Max Ferguson all stole a base as well.
Angel Bastardo made his fifth start of the season for Greenville. The 20-year-old right-hander yielded three runs on three hits, three walks, and five strikeouts on 80 pitches (48 strikes). Out of the Drive bullpen, Joe Jones, Alex Hoppe, and Joey Stock combined for four scoreless frames of relief. Jones earned his second winning decision and lowered his ERA to 0.96 in the process of doing so.
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Despite only having six hits as a team Wednesday night, Salem crossed the plate 12 times. Karson Simas went 2 for 5 with a pair of RBI singles and one run scored. Miguel Bleis went 1 for 4 with a walk, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Allan Castro drew two walks and stole his fifth base of the season. Albert Feliz and Ronald Rosario combined to score five runs after drawing three and four walks, respectively.
Dalton Rogers made his fourth start of the season for Salem. The 22-year-old righty out of Southern Mississippi allowed two earned runs on three hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts over three innings of work. He has now struck out 25 batters in 12 2/3 innings to begin the year. In relief of Rogers, the rehabbing Ryan Zeferjahn earned the win by scattering two hits in a scoreless sixth inning. Railin Perez followed with two shutout innings of his own.
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Player of the Day: After a slow start, top-ranked prospect Marcelo Mayer has really picked things up at the plate. Following Wednesday's four-hit performance, the left-handed hitting 20-year-old is now batting .299/.400/.481 with six doubles, one triple, two home runs, 14 RBIs, 11 runs scored, three stolen bases, 13 walks, and 21 strikeouts in his first 19 games of the season with the Drive.
Photo Credit: Marcelo Mayer by Kelly O'Connor