June 15, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Dalbec goes off at the plate; Rogers twirls six no-hit innings
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It was an offensive onslaught for the WooSox in Norfolk. Bobby Dalbec led the way out of the cleanup spot by going 4 for 6 with a triple, two home runs, four RBIs, and three runs scored. He hit his 15th and 16th homers of the season and finished a double shy of the cycle. Ryan Fitzgerald, who was not even in the starting lineup, also left the yard twice after taking over for second baseman Enmanuel Valdez -- who was hit by a pitch -- in the third inning. Narciso Crook (4) and Ronaldo Hernandez (8) also went deep as part of multi-hit performances. Leadoff man David Hamilton went 2 for 4 with two walks and two runs scored in his first game back from the injured list.
Matt Dermody made his ninth start of the season for Worcester and his first since being outrighted off of Boston's 40-man roster over the weekend. The veteran left-hander picked up the win, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out five across five innings. Of the 94 pitches he threw, 60 went for strikes. In relief of Dermody, fellow southpaw Chris Murphy got tagged for two unearned runs and struck out five over three innings. Kaleb Ort then closed it out with a scoreless bottom of the ninth in which he fanned two of the five batters he faced.
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Portland Sea Dogs, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) (PPD)
Wednesday's contest between the Sea Dogs and Rumble Ponies was postponed due to inclement weather. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader at Mirabito Stadium beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday.
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Dalton Rogers shined in his fourth start of the season for Greenville. The 22-year-old left-hander hurled six scoreless, no-hit innings in which he walked one and struck out 11 to set a new career-high in that category. He retired the first 11 batters he faced before issuing a two-out walk in the top of the fourth but did not give up a single hit. Finishing with 78 pitches (50 strikes), Rogers induced 17 whiffs. Out of the Drive bullpen, Brock Bell put up a zero in the seventh before Robert Kwiatkowski and Joey Stock each surrendered a run over the final two frames.
Roman Anthony got the scoring started by hitting his first High-A home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning for his only hit of the night. Miguel Ugueto homered an inning later, but he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the fourth. Blaze Jordan went 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored to extend his hitting streak to five games. Ronald Rosario, Eddinson Paulino, and Alex Erro each had two hits as well. Erro, though, drove in two runs and stole his sixth base of the year.
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To kick off Wednesday's doubleheader in Salem, the Red Sox received a strong start from Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. The Puerto Rican right-hander allowed just one earned run on two hits and two walks to go along with five strikeouts over five solid innings. Both of those hits came in the top of the first. In relief of Rodriguez-Cruz, Jonathan Brand struck out a pair across two scoreless frames out of the bullpen.
Lyonell James paced the Salem lineup by going a perfect 3 for 3 with two doubles, three RBIs, and two runs scored out of the five-hole. Cutter Coffey hit his second home run of the season as part of a 2 for 4 effort while Albert Feliz crushed a two-run shot. Ahbram Liendo went 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Claudio Simon did not record a hit, but he did draw two walks and stole one base.
Salem's only run in Game 2 of Wednesday's twin bill came on a sixth-inning RBI single from Claudio Simon, who went 2 for 3. Allan Castro and Enderso Lira were the only other members of the Salem lineup to record a base hit. On the mound, Luis De La Rosa took the loss after allowing three earned runs on five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts over four innings. Nathanael Cruz then fired two perfect frames of relief.
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Player of the Day: Bobby Dalbec certainly made a compelling case, but it's hard to argue against six scoreless innings of no-hit ball. And so this honor belongs to Dalton Rogers, who is currently ranked as the No. 32 prospect in the organization. Selected by Boston in the third round of last year's draft out of Southern Mississippi, the 5-foot-11, 172-pound lefty has posted a 2.75 ERA with 27 strikeouts to 13 walks in four starts (19 2/3 innings) for Greenville since being promoted there in late May.
Photo Credit: Dalton Rogers by Kelly O'Connor