June 30, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Rafaela makes Worcester debut; Coffey, Blalock shine on the mound
-----
Thursday's opener finally saw the Triple-A debut of Ceddanne Rafaela, whose WooSox introduction was pushed back by Wednesday's rainout. Rafaela led off and got the start in center field, and while he went 0 for 4, he would return to make an impact in the nightcap. Niko Goodrum blasted a two-run homer in the sixth inning and drew a pair of walks. Kyle Barraclough picked up his second win in two starts since joining the WooSox, allowing two runs on three hits over five innings, striking out two, and walking two. Brandon Nail went two shutout innings for the save.
It was a bullpen game for Worcester in the nightcap as scheduled starter Brandon Walter was pushed back a day to line him up in case James Paxton is unable to throw Friday. A quartet of pitchers turned in admirable efforts and were backed by a four-solo-homer performance by the lineup. Chase Shugart got the first assignment, giving up just one hit in two scoreless innings. Recently-acquired Andres Nunez got the win in his Worcester debut as he also gave up one hit in two scoreless frames, striking out three against one walk. Tayler Scott went a pair of shutout frames before Worcester reached AJ Politi for a pair in the seventh to end the shutout bid. Rafaela got the scoring started with a fifth-inning solo homer, his first hit as a member of the WooSox. Bobby Dalbec went deep to lead off the sixth, and three batters later Daniel Palka and Narciso Crook went back to back for a pair of insurance runs that proved vital.
-----
The Portland lineup managed only four hits, but Isaac Coffey was excellent and came out on the winning end of the pitcher's duel. Coffey scattered three hits over six scoreless innings, striking out four, walking two, and hitting a batter. He pounded the zone, throwing 57 of 83 pitches for strikes, and earned his first Double-A victory. Joely Rodriguez threw a scoreless inning in his rehab appearance, followed by a scoreless frame by Taylor Broadway, who is looking to reset at Portland after a rough stretch in Triple-A. Luis Guerrero pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 13th save and lower his ERA to 1.19 over 26 appearances. Nathan Hickey delivered the only extra-base hit for either side, a solo home run in the sixth inning. It was Hickey's 11th round-tripper of the season and seventh since joining Portland in early May.
-----
Bradley Blalock joined Coffey with a strong start to earn a first win at a new level. Blalock, making his second start since joining Greenville from Salem, allowed one run on five hits over six innings. The 22-year-old righty struck out four without issuing a walk, and he needed just 71 pitches to get through the six frames, throwing 50 of them for strikes. Eddinson Paulino started off the scoring with a solo homer in the first on his way to a big night at the plate. Paulino finished 2 for 4 with a walk, run scored, and three RBI. Roman Anthony continued to show a hot bat, going 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI. It was the third straight game for Anthony with multiple hits as he boosted his line in 13 games since his promotion to .313/.441/.729.
-----
Hits were hard to come by in Fredericksburg, as the Nats outhit the Sox four to three. It was a short start for Noah Dean, who struggled with control issues as he walked six of the 10 batters he faced in just 1 2/3 innings, giving up one hit. He managed to escape without having allowed a run, however, with a double play in the first inning, a pickoff in the second, and some help from Luis De La Rosa who came on to strand the bases loaded. De La Rosa was saddled with the loss, giving up one hit, a solo homer, in 3 2/3. He struck out three and walked two. Brooks Brannon went 1 for 4 in his Salem debut.
-----
Natanael Yuten and Johnfrank Salazar backed an excellent start by Wyatt Olds in Fort Myers. Olds, back in the complex after serious control issues in Double-A, scattered four hits over five scoreless innings. Most importantly, he did not issue a walk or hit a batter, striking out two. Yuten led the offense, going 3 for 3 with two doubles, a walk, and a run scored. Salazar also did not record an out, going 2 for 2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
-----
Team Red had its chances but suffered through a 2-for-13 afternoon with runners in scoring position. Franklin Arias was 2 for 5, his sixth multihit game in 14 starts as he raises his average to .393. Albert Chalas was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Geiser Figueroa took the loss, surrendering four runs in 3 2/3.
-----
Team Blue shared in the trouble with runners in scoring position, going 1 for 11 in the extra-inning loss. Yoeilin Cespedes blasted a seventh-inning solo home run that knotted the game at 4-4. It was the third of the season for the organization's top signing from January's international class. Starlyn Nunez was 3 for 3 with a pair of walks and a run scored. The contest again featured all three De La Cruzes on the mound, this time with Cesar Ruiz sandwiched in. Starter Nicolas De La Cruz allowed two unearned runs in two hitless innings, followed by Darlyn De La Cruz who gave up a pair on one hit in 4 1/3. Ruiz scattered two hits in 2 2/3 scoreless. Ruben De La Cruz took the loss, giving up three runs in the 10th.
-----
Player of the Day: After a breakout performance at Greenville, Isaac Coffey was excellent in earning his first Double-A victory. An unheralded 10th-round pick last July who signed for just $10,000, Coffey impressed with the Drive as he posted a 2.83 ERA in 11 starts. His 83 strikeouts still have him third in the South Atlantic League. After an uneven debut with the Sea Dogs last week, Coffey turned in a start more in line with his pre-promotion performance. The 23-year-old got his first Double-A win with six scoreless, striking out four, the fourth time this season he's gone six frames without allowing a run.
Photo Credit: Isaac Coffey by Kelly O'Connor