May 21, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Paulino slam the lone bright spot as weather rules the day
5/21 Cup of Coffee: Two of the four affiliates suffered rainouts as a bout of much-needed rain took over the Northeast, while a third suffered a shutout in a rain-shortened affair. But Eddinson Paulino (pictured) and Greenville salvaged the soggy day with a five-run inning that helped fuel the system's only victory.
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Worcester Red Sox vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) PPD
This game was postponed and is scheduled to be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday.
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Portland Sea Dogs @ Hartford Yard Goats (COL) PPD
This game was also postponed and is scheduled to be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday.
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A 5-run fifth inning helped erase an early hole as Greenville cruised to a 7-3 victory. Despite falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Drive offense clicked in a big way in the fifth thanks in large part to a two-out grand slam by Eddinson Paulino. Max Ferguson also earned a bases-loaded walk in the inning. Paulino wasn't done, adding an RBI single in the 7th inning, and Ferguson added an RBI groundout for his second hit-free RBI. Paulino finished 3 for 4 on the night. Miguel Ugueto added a two-hit effort. Hunter Dobbins scattered six hits in the win, including a two-run home run in the first inning, but he walked just one and struck out four. Nate Tellier pitched two scoreless innings, while Christopher Troye gave up a two-out, solo homer but closed the game out without further incident.
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Salem managed just 5 hits in this rain-shortened contest that was called after 6 1/2 innings. Juan Chacon and Enderso Lira contributed two hits apiece, with Cutter Coffey picking up the other hit -- all five were singles. Luis Perales gave up three runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts and now sports a 6.05 ERA on the season. Caleb Bolden pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings, allowing just one walk.
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Player of the Day: Driving in five of the system's seven runs -- four in one swing -- earns you obvious daily honors. Eddinson Paulino did just that thanks to his fifth-inning bases-clearing blast that broke the game wide open in and giving Greenville a lead it would not relinquish. Paulino, the No. 11-ranked player in the SoxProspects rankings, raised his batting average to .246 on the season. Is it the beginning of a breakout for the talented second baseman? Stay tuned. The anti-player of the day? Mother Nature.
Photo Credit: Eddinson Paulino by Kelly O'Connor