May 11, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Yorke and Binelas homer; Meidroth plays hero in Double-A debut
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Matt Dermody was solid in his fifth start of the season for Worcester. The well-traveled left-hander allowed two earned runs on nine hits, zero walks, and one hit batsman to go along with seven strikeouts over six innings of work. He induced 14 swings-and-misses and finished with 84 pitches (60 strikes). In relief of Dermody, Andrew Politi, Ryan Sherriff, and Chase Shugart combined for three scoreless frames out of the WooSox bullpen.
David Hamilton provided some pop out of the leadoff spot by going 1 for 3 with a go-ahead, 437-foot, three-run home run in the eighth inning. It was his seventh homer of the season and it came off of old friend Jordan Weems. Caleb Hamilton also made his only hit of the night count with a game-tying RBI single in the eighth. Narciso Crook went 1 for 2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Greg Allen went 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base. Wilyer Abreu, the only member of Worcester's lineup to not record a hit, drew two walks.
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Chase Meidroth played hero in his Double-A debut. The third baseman went 3 for 6 with two RBIs, the second of which came on a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning. Fellow infielder and California native Nick Yorke went 2 for 4 with two walks and his fourth home run of the season. Alex Binelas also homered and drove in two runs while Ceddanne Rafaela swiped two bags.
In his sixth start of the season for Portland, Shane Drohan allowed more than one run for the first time this year. The impressive left-hander yielded three earned runs on five hits and a season-high three walks to go along with six strikeouts over five innings. All three of those runs were scored in the top of the fifth. Out of the Sea Dogs bullpen, a rehabbing Joely Rodriguez struck out one in a scoreless sixth inning. Jacob Webb then got tagged for two runs before Luis Guerrero and Ryan Fernandez combined for three shutout frames.
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Angel Bastardo fell to 0-4 on the season for Greenville. The 20-year-old righty surrendered five runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks with nine strikeouts over five innings. Of the 87 pitches he threw, 53 went for strikes. Out of the Drive bullpen, Casey Cobb served up a grand slam in the sixth inning and Alex Hoppe struck out one over two scoreless frames of relief.
Brainer Bonaci enjoyed a productive afternoon at the plate. The second baseman went 2 for 4 with a double, two RBIs, one run scored, one walk, and one stolen base. Bryan Gonzalez also put together a multi-hit game by going 2 for 3 with an RBI triple and a walk. Max Ferguson and Kier Meredith each drew two walks and stole one base.
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Dalton Rogers was sharp in his fifth start of the season for Salem. The 22-year-old southpaw yielded just one hit and three walks to go along with six strikeouts over five scoreless innings. He induced 11 swings-and-misses and finished with 81 pitches (50 strikes). In relief of Rogers, Michael Valera surrendered two runs on three hits in the top of the sixth. Nathanael Cruz then recorded four outs without giving up a run before Brock Bell was tagged for one run in the ninth and was charged with the loss as a result.
Miguel Bleis led the way with three hits (all singles) and an RBI out of the three-hole. Juan Chacon went 2 for 4 with a double. Luis Ravelo provided the only other scoring by crushing his third home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning. Allan Castro, Roman Anthony, and Ahbram Liendo each stole a base.
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Player of the Day: After getting his first full professional season off to a scorching start, Chase Meidroth earned a promotion from Greenville to Portland on Tuesday. The 21-year-old made the most of his Double-A debut at Hadlock Field on Wednesday night by lifting the Sea Dogs to a walk-off victory. He is currently ranked as the No. 22 prospect in the organization.
Photo Credit: Chase Meidroth by Kelly O'Connor