June 21, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Dalbec homers again, Yorke has huge game
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Worcester Red Sox 7, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 5
Niko Goodrum had a big night with a 3-for-3 performance that included his seventh home run of the season, two RBI, and a walk. Bobby Dalbec also absolutely crushed his 18th homer of the season. Daniel Palka added two hits and three RBI. David Hamilton and Enmanuel Valdez were both removed early from the game. According to Katie Morrison-O'Day of MassLive, Valdez came out due to his hand and Hamilton came out just in case he was needed for the big club. Jeremy Walker started and allowed one run on a solo shot in two innings with a pair of strikeouts. Trey Cobb and Jesus Cruz each tossed a scoreless frame, with Cruz punching out two.
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Niko Goodrum had a big night with a 3-for-3 performance that included his seventh home run of the season, two RBI, and a walk. Bobby Dalbec also absolutely crushed his 18th homer of the season. Daniel Palka added two hits and three RBI. David Hamilton and Enmanuel Valdez were both removed early from the game. According to Katie Morrison-O'Day of MassLive, Valdez came out due to his hand and Hamilton came out just in case he was needed for the big club. Jeremy Walker started and allowed one run on a solo shot in two innings with a pair of strikeouts. Trey Cobb and Jesus Cruz each tossed a scoreless frame, with Cruz punching out two.
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Reading Fightin Phils (PHI) 7, Portland Sea Dogs 2
Nick Yorke had a monster night at the plate with four of the Sea Dogs' six hits. The second baseman doubled and belted his ninth home run of the season. Nathan Hickey singled and walked and Niko Kavadas drew two walks. Chih-Jung Liu started and lasted four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out seven and walked three. Brendan Cellucci was impressive out of the bullpen, striking out four with no walks or runs allowed in 1 2/3 innings. Jacob Webb also pitched a couple of scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no free passes.
Nick Yorke had a monster night at the plate with four of the Sea Dogs' six hits. The second baseman doubled and belted his ninth home run of the season. Nathan Hickey singled and walked and Niko Kavadas drew two walks. Chih-Jung Liu started and lasted four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out seven and walked three. Brendan Cellucci was impressive out of the bullpen, striking out four with no walks or runs allowed in 1 2/3 innings. Jacob Webb also pitched a couple of scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no free passes.
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Bowling Green Hot Rods (TB) 2, Greenville Drive 0
The Drive were held to just three hits last night, all of them singles. Blaze Jordan, Tyler Miller, and Ronald Rosario had the three base hits. Roman Anthony was the only member of the Drive offense to reach base twice, as he drew a couple of walks. Juan Daniel Encarnacion pitched well, going the first six innings and surrendering just two runs. The right-hander struck out five and walked just one. Graham Hoffman and Alex Hoppe each delivered a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
The Drive were held to just three hits last night, all of them singles. Blaze Jordan, Tyler Miller, and Ronald Rosario had the three base hits. Roman Anthony was the only member of the Drive offense to reach base twice, as he drew a couple of walks. Juan Daniel Encarnacion pitched well, going the first six innings and surrendering just two runs. The right-hander struck out five and walked just one. Graham Hoffman and Alex Hoppe each delivered a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
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Down East Wood Ducks (TEX) 8, Salem Red Sox 3
Noah Dean struggled a bit on the bump, surrendering five runs on four hits and five walks in just 3 1/3 innings pitched. Jhonny Felix came on and struck out four in 2 2/3 frames, but he allowed two runs as well. Luis Talavera gave up just one run in three innings with three strikeouts. Alexis Hernandez smacked his first long ball of the season, a two-run blast in the ninth inning. He also drew a pair of walks. Cutter Coffey had a nice night at the dish as well, going 2 for 4 with a three-bagger. Jhostynxon Garcia added a double.
Noah Dean struggled a bit on the bump, surrendering five runs on four hits and five walks in just 3 1/3 innings pitched. Jhonny Felix came on and struck out four in 2 2/3 frames, but he allowed two runs as well. Luis Talavera gave up just one run in three innings with three strikeouts. Alexis Hernandez smacked his first long ball of the season, a two-run blast in the ninth inning. He also drew a pair of walks. Cutter Coffey had a nice night at the dish as well, going 2 for 4 with a three-bagger. Jhostynxon Garcia added a double.
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FCL Braves 8, FCL Red Sox 4
The Sox roped six doubles, including a pair from Albertson Asigen, who was 2 for 4. Brooks Brannon, Deundre Jones, and Johanfran Garcia each had two knocks as well, with Brannon and Garcia hitting doubles. Natanael Yuten doubled and stole a base but was removed from the game early after just one at-bat. It was a huge day for Sox left-hander Jeremy Wu-Yelland, who made his first appearance in any game since 2021. He missed all of 2022 and the first part of this season after having Tommy John surgery, but tossed a hitless inning in his return to the mound. Connor Butler and Yonfi Rodriguez each threw a scoreless frame as well, with Rodriguez punching out two.
The Sox roped six doubles, including a pair from Albertson Asigen, who was 2 for 4. Brooks Brannon, Deundre Jones, and Johanfran Garcia each had two knocks as well, with Brannon and Garcia hitting doubles. Natanael Yuten doubled and stole a base but was removed from the game early after just one at-bat. It was a huge day for Sox left-hander Jeremy Wu-Yelland, who made his first appearance in any game since 2021. He missed all of 2022 and the first part of this season after having Tommy John surgery, but tossed a hitless inning in his return to the mound. Connor Butler and Yonfi Rodriguez each threw a scoreless frame as well, with Rodriguez punching out two.
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DSL Red Sox Blue 10, DSL Cubs Blue 6
Frederik Jimenez led the offense by reaching four times with three singles and a walk, raising his batting average on the year to .395. Jhoan Solarte was 2 for 5 with his first home run of the season, while Cristofher Paniagua had two hits including a triple. Moises Semerite singled and doubled, and Yoeilin Cespedes stayed hot with two more hits. Juan Valera and Enrique Carta had very nice outings for the Sox, as Valera got the win with three innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts and no walks. Carta tossed two innings of his own, allowing just a run with three strikeouts.
Frederik Jimenez led the offense by reaching four times with three singles and a walk, raising his batting average on the year to .395. Jhoan Solarte was 2 for 5 with his first home run of the season, while Cristofher Paniagua had two hits including a triple. Moises Semerite singled and doubled, and Yoeilin Cespedes stayed hot with two more hits. Juan Valera and Enrique Carta had very nice outings for the Sox, as Valera got the win with three innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts and no walks. Carta tossed two innings of his own, allowing just a run with three strikeouts.
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DSL Red Sox Red 6, DSL Pirates Gold 5 (11 innings)
Wuilliams Rodriguez was fantastic on the mound, going the first five innings without surrendering a run. The right-hander has his ERA down to 1.29 on the year in 14 innings. Brahian Rijo struck out three and allowed one run in two innings, Marcos Almanzar tossed a scoreless frame, and Jean Carlos Reyes picked up the win with four strikeouts and one earned run allowed in two innings. Yohander Linarez had a big day at the plate by going 3 for 6 with an RBI and a run. Yosander Asencio also hit a triple and drew three walks out of the leadoff spot. Jancel Santana added two hits and a walk.
Wuilliams Rodriguez was fantastic on the mound, going the first five innings without surrendering a run. The right-hander has his ERA down to 1.29 on the year in 14 innings. Brahian Rijo struck out three and allowed one run in two innings, Marcos Almanzar tossed a scoreless frame, and Jean Carlos Reyes picked up the win with four strikeouts and one earned run allowed in two innings. Yohander Linarez had a big day at the plate by going 3 for 6 with an RBI and a run. Yosander Asencio also hit a triple and drew three walks out of the leadoff spot. Jancel Santana added two hits and a walk.
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Player of the Week: Nick Yorke delivered his first four-hit game of the season, which is a bit surprising considering how good he has been this year. The 2020 first-round pick is hitting .291/.385/.491 this season for Portland across 56 games. He has been extremely consistent this year, hitting .284 in April, .295 in May, and .292 so far in June.
Photo Credit: Nick Yorke by Kelly O'Connor