June 9, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Big bats of Yorke, Alcantara power system-wide sweep
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A three-run seventh inning gave Worcester the comeback victory, as Niko Goodrum delivered a two-run game-tying single followed by a Bobby Dalbec tiebreaking base hit. Dalbec was 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base on the day. Bradley Zimmer led the offense, blasting a solo homer as part of a 3-for-4 effort. Rio Gomez allowed two runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings in his second start since his promotion from Portland. Brandon Nail made his Triple-A debut in relief and got credit for the victory, giving up two runs on three hits in 3 2/3, striking out six against two walks. Nail had a 0.99 ERA in 14 appearances with the Sea Dogs. Ryan Sherriff and AJ Politi went a scoreless inning apiece to preserve the win.
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Every member of the Portland lineup had at least one knock as part of a 14-hit attack at Hadlock, led by another big effort from Nick Yorke. The 2020 first-round pick was 3 for 5, including a double, three-run homer, and five runs driven in as he boosted his season slash line to .294/.402/.489. Ceddanne Rafaela also went deep, while Niko Kavadas reached base four times, going 2 for 3 with two walks. Corey Rosier was 3 for 4 with a pair of runs scored and his 24th stolen base of the year out of the ninth hole.
It was the normal turn for Wyatt Olds in the rotation, but the team had him follow an opener as he tries to get his command back on track. Joe Jones got the call to make his first professional start, working the first inning and surrendering a two-run homer. Olds followed, and the new role did not immediately produce a different result. The 20-year-old righty allowed five runs (four earned) in 2 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking four. However, he was picked up by the Portland offense and excellent work by a trio of relievers. Ryan Miller gave up just one hit in 2 1/3 frames, getting credit for the win. The two-headed monster at the back of the Portland bullpen was outstanding once again. Ryan Fernandez struck out four in two shutout innings, while Luis Guerrero had a pair of punchouts in a scoreless ninth. Fernandez and Guerrero have ERAs of 2.08 and 1.09 on the year.
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Greenville Drive @ Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM), postponed
The air quality issues from the Quebec wildfires were bad enough in Brooklyn on Thursday that the contest was postponed. It will be made up on Saturday as part of a doubleheader.
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Bradley Blalock continues to impress in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. In his third start since his activation, Blalock scattered three hits over a season-high five scoreless innings. He struck out six without issuing a walk and needed just 58 pitches to get through those five frames, throwing 41 for strikes. He cut his ERA to 1.38 over 13 innings, and he's recorded 16 strikeouts against only three walks. Felix Cepeda went two scoreless innings to notch the save, striking out four and walking two. Allen Castro reached base three times, going 2 for 3 with a walk. Luis Ravelo had a pair of hits, while Ahbram Liendo was 1 for 2 with two walks and two stolen bases.
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Marvin Alcantara emerged from spring training as the top-rated prospect in the complex leagues, and the reasons for that were on display Thursday afternoon. The 18-year-old shortstop homered and doubled as part of a 3-for-5 effort, as he drove in three runs, scored two, and stole a base. Karim Ayubi had a pair of hits and Angel Pierre had a triple and was hit by a pitch. Elvis Soto went four scoreless innings in his first stateside appearance, scattering three hits. Stijn Van Der Schaaf got credit for the win despite some shake control as he walked six against one strikeout in two innings but did not surrender a hit, giving up a pair of runs.
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Franklin Arias led Team Red's 13-hit attack, going 4 for 5 with a walk and two RBI out of the leadoff spot. Gerardo Rodriguez had his third double in two games as part of a 2-for-5 effort while Nixson Cueche tripled as part of his own 2-for-5 evening. Geiser Figueroa got the start, giving up five runs (three earned) in three innings. The win went to Breilin Arredondo in relief as he gave up two runs in three innings, striking out three and walking one.
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Boston's DSL squads knocked off both of Detroit's counterparts as Team Blue emerged victorious as well. Yoeilin Cespedes, the top-ranked free agent of Boston's 2023 international class, blasted his first professional home run as part of a two-hit day. Cristofher Paniagua ripped a pair of doubles in the win. Starter Nicolas De La Cruz allowed one run on three hits in 3 1/3. Darlyn De La Cruz (no relation) got credit for the win in relief.
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Player of the Day: There were several strong candidates on a big day across the system, but the nod goes to recognize the continued emergence of Marvin Alcantara in the Florida Complex League. Alcantara received a modest $30,000 bonus coming out of Venezuela in 2022, but he quickly impressed scouts as one of the top position players in the Dominican Summer League. He continued to impress coming stateside in spring training and is off to a hot start to the 2023 season, going 5 for 14 with two doubles and a home run.
Photo Credit: Marvin Alcantara by Kelly O'Connor