May 18, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Yorke homers; Bonaci, Ravelo tally three hits
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What was a tight game through nine innings turned out to be a blowout loss for Worcester. Matt Dermody went six innings in his fourth start of the season and was a victim of some poor luck as the WooSox committed four errors while he was on the mound. As a result, the left-hander allowed three unearned runs on six hits and two walks to go along with three strikeouts. Of the 103 pitches he threw, 66 went for strikes. In relief of Dermody, Taylor Broadway, and Kaleb Ort combined for two scoreless frames before Chase Shugart and Oddanier Mosqueda got tagged for a total of seven runs (six earned) in a disastrous top of the 10th.
On the other side of things, Jorge Alfaro crushed a two-run shot in the first inning for his fourth home run of the season. He also drew a walk as part of a 1-for-3 day at the plate. Worcester's only other run came on an RBI single from Nick Sogard in the bottom of the fourth. David Hamilton tripled and scored out of the leadoff spot while Greg Allen and Niko Goodrum each stole a base. Allen now has 22 stolen bases on the year.
It was not a great day for Portland's pitching staff, as all four pitchers gave up two or more runs. Starter Wyatt Olds was erratic, allowing three earned runs on two hits, six walks, and four strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings. Only 36 of the 76 pitches he threw went for strikes. Ryan Miller gave up another three runs, while Jacob Webb got tagged for six (four earned) and Skylar Arias yielded two (one earned). Ten of Hartford's runs crossed the plate in the sixth inning.
Nick Yorke paced the Portland lineup, going 1 for 3 with three RBIs, two walks, and one run scored out of the leadoff spot. The second baseman deposited a two-run home run to the right-center field seats in the fifth inning for his fifth big fly of the season. Niko Kavadas also drove in a run and drew two walks. Ceddanne Rafaela and Christian Koss each doubled while Corey Rosier swiped two bags to bring his total for the year up to 20.
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Angel Bastardo was impressive in his seventh start of the season for Greenville. The young right-hander allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out seven over six scoreless, one-hit innings. He took a no-hit bid into the fourth inning before giving up a one-out single. He then retired the final eight batters he faced to finish with 81 pitches (51 strikes). In relief of Bastardo, Maceo Campbell served up a three-run home run in the seventh and was tagged with the loss. Graham Hoffman and Alex Hoppe combined for two scoreless frames after that.
Greenville's only two runs came in the fifth inning when Brainer Bonaci plated Eduardo Lopez with an infield RBI single and Marcelo Mayer drove in Ronald Rosario with a sacrifice fly. Bonaci led the way offensively by tallying three hits. Mayer also singled as part of a 1-for-3 night at the plate. Eddinson Paulino accounted for his side's lone extra-base hit with a second-inning double.
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It was a productive night at the plate for second baseman Luis Ravelo. The cleanup hitter went a perfect 3 for 3 with two RBIs and a walk. He drove in the winning run with a tie-breaking RBI double in the top of the ninth inning. Leadoff man Roman Anthony also enjoyed a multi-hit game by going 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Allan Castro and Cutter Coffey each drew two walks and stole a base.
Dalton Rogers made his sixth start of the season for Salem. The 22-year-old lefty allowed just one earned run on three hits and two walks to go along with seven strikeouts over four innings of work. Of the 79 pitches he threw, 55 went for strikes. Out of the bullpen, Marques Johnson surrendered three runs in the bottom of the eighth. But Railin Perez and Jonathan Brand combined to scatter two hits across 4 2/3 shutout frames.
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Player of the Day: Wednesday marked the second three-hit and fifth multi-RBI game of the season for Luis Ravelo. Following this latest performance, the switch-hitting 19-year-old is now batting .271/.392/.411 with six doubles, three home runs, 22 RBIs, 18 runs scored, five stolen bases, 21 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 30 games (130 plate appearances) with Salem. He is currently ranked as the 29th prospect in the organization.
Photo Credit: Luis Ravelo by Kelly O'Connor