June 19, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Koss breaks out for Worcester; Jordan and Kavadas homer again
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The WooSox closed out their road trip by picking up their third straight win. Christian Koss led the way offensively, going 3 for 4 with a double, a triple, an RBI, and a run scored out of the seven-hole. He was also hit by a pitch. Like Koss, Niko Goodrum tripled as part of a three-hit effort in which he drove in two runs and scored twice. Ronaldo Hernandez went 2 for 5 with a two-run single and two runs scored. Stephen Scott plated a pair on a two-run single in the fourth inning. Nick Sogard and Marcus Wilson each drew two walks and scored two runs.
Jake Faria went 5 1/3 innings in his sixth start of the season for Worcester. The veteran right-hander allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits, two walks, and three hit batsman to go along with six strikeouts. Of the 85 pitches he threw, 51 went for strikes. Out of the WooSox bullpen, Cam Booser earned the winning decision by striking out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Taylor Broadway got tagged for one run in the eighth before Ryan Fernandez -- in his Triple-A debut -- retired the side in order in the ninth.
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Ceddanne Rafaela went 2 for 4 out of the leadoff spot. He also stole his 30th base of the season. Niko Kavadas crushed a two-run shot in the second inning for his 12th home run of the year. Portland's only extra-base hit belonged to Nick Yorke, who went 1 for 4 with a third-inning double. Marcelo Mayer was the only member of the Sea Dogs lineup to draw a walk.
On the other side of things, it was a bullpen day of sorts for Portland. Skylar Arias went the first two innings before making way for Robert Kwiatkowski, who allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings in his Double-A debut. Brendan Cellucci surrendered an unearned run in the fifth. Ryan Zeferjahn, Ryan Miller, and Dylan Spacke then combined for four scoreless frames before Luis Guerrero got walked off on in the 10th and was charged with both the loss and blown save as a result.
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It was another walk-off win for the Drive at Fluor Field on Sunday. Bryan Gonzalez played hero this time around by capping off a two-hit day with a game-winning, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth. Tyler Miller and Karson Simas enjoyed two-hit afternoons as well, with the former homering for the fifth time this season and the latter doubling and scoring two runs. Speaking of homers, Blaze Jordan went deep for the 10th time this year while also drawing two walks. Out of the leadoff spot, Roman Anthony went 1 for 4 with a two-run double. Batting behind him, Brainer Bonaci went 1 for 4 with a double and a walk in his first game since June 2.
Angel Bastardo went five full inning in his 12th start of the season for Greenville. The 21-year-old righty allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. He finished 94 pitches (58 strikes) and induced 15 swings-and-misses. In relief of Bastardo, Casey Cobb gave up one run in the seventh before Brock Bell tossed two scoreless frames to pick up the winning decision.
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Alexis Hernandez paced the Salem lineup by going 3 for 3 with a double, two RBIs, one run scored, one walk, and one stolen base out of the nine-hole. Five other Red Sox hitters enjoyed two-hit performances. Allan Castro went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a walk, Luis Ravelo went 2 for 4 with an RBI, a walk, and two runs scored, Jhostynxon Garcia went 2 for 5 with an RBI and run scored, Enderso Lira hit his first professional home run as part of a 2 for 4 day, and Lyonell James went 2 for 3 with a two-run single and a run scored.
Jedixson Paez went 4 2/3 innings in his eighth start of the season for Salem. The 19-year-old hurler out of Venezuela yielded four earned runs on five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts on 83 pitches (54 strikes). Out of the Red Sox bullpen, Railin Perez, Marques Johnson, and Jonathan Brand combined for 4 1/3 scoreless frames of relief. Perez notched the win, Johnson picked up a hold, and Brand recorded the save.
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Player of the Day: With three hits on Sunday, Christian Koss extended his hitting streak to five games. During that stretch, the right-handed hitting infielder has gone 7 for 17 (.412) at the plate with one double, one triple, two RBIs, three runs scored, zero walks, and two strikeouts. He is currently ranked as the No. 38 prospect in the organization.
Photo Credit: Christian Koss by Kelly O'Connor