June 10, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Perales, Gonzalez fire gems on packed Saturday schedule
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Enmanuel Valdez returned to Triple-A, giving the WooSox lineup their first representative in the top 30 since David Hamilton and Wilyer Abreu were placed on the injured list last week. Valdez promptly provided a needed spark, going 2 for 3 with a double and a home run. Ryan Fitzgerald and Niko Goodrum added two hits apiece. Shane Drohan turned in a solid outing, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings, both coming on a two-run homer in the fourth. He walked three, struck out five, and threw 54 of 89 pitches for strikes. Kaleb Ort retired all four batters he faced to record the save.
Worcester recorded only four hits in the nightcap but came away with the extra-inning victory. Valdez added another hit as well as a walk, finishing 3 for 6 in the doubleheader. Norwith Gudino was excellent, allowing one run on two hits in five frames, striking out four against one walk. After Rochester scraped together a run against Theo Denlinger, AJ Politi struck out a pair in a perfect seventh to get credit for the win.
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After allowing five runs in the first two innings, Grant Gambrell found his groove and pitched six full without allowing any additional damage. He struck out six against just one walk in his first start allowing more than one earned run since his promotion from Greenville. Ryan Zeferjahn was dominant in relief, striking out five of the seven batters he faced and walking one in two hitless innings. Joe Jones added a scoreless inning to finish up the contest. The highlight at the plate was once again Nick Yorke. The 2020 first-round pick collected two of Portland's five hits and picked up a double. He has now recorded multiple hits in four straight contests. Matthew Lugo went deep for the first time since April 21, and Phillip Sikes legged out a triple
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The Drive collected only five hits in the opener but took advatage of some sloppy Brooklyn play, scoring six runs in the seventh on four walks, two errors, two wild pitches, and one base hit. Eddinson Paulino had the only extra-base hit of the contest, his 11th double of the season, as Miguel Ugueto drove in a pair. Wikelman Gonzalez was in control throughout, allowing two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out nine against just one walk. After posting an ugly 15.58 ERA in his first four starts of the season, Gonzalez has a 3.48 mark in his last seven, featuring 56 strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Joey Stock went 1 2/3 scoreless for the save.
In a more crisply played nightcap, Greenville went to extra frames to come away victorious. Jordan DiValerio took charge in the spot start, giving up one run on two hits in four innings, striking out four without issuing a walk. Graham Hoffman followed with three perfect innings, striking out three and throwing 21 of 26 pitches for strikes to record the win. Brock Bell struck out a pair and gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth for the save. Paulino set the table out of the leadoff spot, adding another double and scoring both Greenville runs. Tyler Miller chipped in with an RBI double.
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Luis Perales dominated in his first professional win in Saturday's pitchers' duel. The right-hander was nearly perfect in five shutout innings, surrendering just a single, while striking out seven and inducing an eye-popping 17 swinging strikes. The Salem bullpen didn't miss a beat as Marques Johnson followed with two strikeouts in two scoreless frames and Caleb Bolden fanned five in two innings, both pitchers allowing a hit apiece. Overall, the trio struck out 14 without issuing a walk in the combined three-hit shutout. Allen Castro provided the offensive spark, going 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles, a run scored, and an RBI.
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There were some clear bright spots on a tough afternoon in Fort Myers. Alexis Hernandez reached base in each of his five plate appearances with a single and four walks. He's drawn eight walks in his first four games and reached base in 13 of 18 plate appearances (a .722 OBP). Kelvin Diaz was 1 for 2 with two walks and a run scored. Karim Ayubi ripped a double and Bryant Zayas legged out a triple for the Sox. Luis Cohen got the start, allowing three runs on four hits in four innings, striking out four and walking two. Yonfi Rodriguez was saddled win the blown save despite being the staff's most effective pitcher of the night. Entering with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh, the Twins were able to plate two of those inherited runners, but Rodriguez did not surrender a score of his own in 1 2/3 innings as he gave up just one hit and struck out three of the six batters he faced.
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Third baseman Nixson Cueche was the highlight in the blowout loss, going 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Juan Henriquez got the start, giving up four runs in 3 2/3 innings.
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Results were better for Team Blue as they racked up 12 hits in their way to victory. Starlyn Nunez led the way, going 3 for 4 with a double, walk, stolen base, three RBI, and two runs scored. Frederik Jimenez also doubled and drove in three as part of a three-hit afternoon. Yoiber Ruiz had a double and triple out of the leadoff spot, scoring a pair of runs. Starter Ricardo Rodriguez gave up three runs in 2 2/3 innings. Emmanuel Polo got the win in relief.
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Player of the Day: After a shaky start to the season, Luis Perales has been showing why he has the highest upside of any arm in the organization. The right-hander was nearly unhittable, with 17 swinging strikes, 10 looking strikes, and just nine balls put into play. It was the second time in three starts that Perales recorded 17 whiffs, and he has 21 strikeouts against just three walks in his last three appearances. After giving up seven runs in three innings in his first two starts, Perales has a 3.14 ERA with opponents hitting just .217/.309/.311. After making just one pro appearance before 2022 due to the COVID season and various injuries, Perales has been handled carefully. Because he has rarely been allowed to go five innings, Saturday's effort was the 2019 signee's first minor league winning decision.
Photo Credit: Luis Perales by Kelly O'Connor