June 25, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Van Belle shines for Portland; Perales again strong in Salem
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The WooSox clawed their way back from an early 7-3 deficit to come away with the victory. The contest was delayed slightly more than two hours due to rain, and the extra time was not a benefit to starter Jake Faria. The veteran righty allowed seven runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. He was bailed out by a bullpen that combined to fire 6 2/3 shutout innings. Taylor Broadway surrendered two hits in 2 2/3, striking out one. The only baserunner allowed by winning pitcher Oddanier Mosqueda in 2 1/3 was on a hit batsman, and he struck out four of the eight batters he faced. AJ Politi went the final 1 2/3 for the save.
Nick Sogard was 3 for 5 out of the leadoff spot, bumping his average up to .293. Niko Goodrum and Narciso Crook both doubled as part of two-hit efforts, and Daniel Palka delivered a solo homer in the sixth.
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Brian Van Belle turned in an excellent start to lead Portland. He allowed one run on five hits over six innings, striking out eight without issuing a walk. The effort lowered his ERA to 2.61 on the year and moves his record to 6-3. Luis Guerrero has been solid all year long and especially outstanding of late. The 22-year-old righty struck out one in a perfect ninth inning. Over his last seven appearances, he has allowed just one earned run in 6 2/3, striking out 13 of the 29 batters he faced while walking only two. Marcelo Mayer led the way at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. Ceddanne Rafaela and Alex Binelas both had solo home runs.
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Double-play tandem Brainer Bonaci and Eddinson Paulino were again the highlights for Greenville on an otherwise rough night. The day after both players homered twice, the two followed it up by matching 2-for-5 efforts. Paulino added a double and a run scored, and both players swiped a base. Angel Bastardo saw his start get spoiled by a four-run fourth inning. Those were the only runs he surrendered in his five innings of work, as he struck out seven and walked two. He now has 83 strikeouts, placing him in a tie with recently promoted Isaac Coffey for second in the South Atlantic League, trailing only fellow Drive hurler Wikelman Gonzalez. Aaron Perry got back on track with a scoreless eighth inning, striking out three. Perry had been struggling since his activation from the injured list, surrendering 12 runs in just 1 2/3 innings.
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Luis Peralas and a pair of Salem relievers matched up evenly with the Down East staff during regulation, but the Wood Ducks attacked for four runs in the 10th inning. Perales allowed two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. Both runs came on a two-run homer in the third, just the second home run he has surrendered all season. Caleb Bolden was outstanding in relief, striking out five and giving up just one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Felix Cepeda fired a perfect ninth but was reached for the four runs (three earned) in the 10th. Cutter Coffey was responsible for all of the Salem run scoring, blasting a two-run homer in the first. It was his third home run of the year, all coming since June 7. After showing good plate discipline but struggling to consistently make hard contact over his first two months, Coffey has emerged to hit .317/.414/.600 in his last 16 games.
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Team Red took advantage of the Cub hurlers' control issues, drawing 13 walks in the victory. Natanael Eusebio scored four times out of the leadoff spot with a single and three free passes. Franklin Arias has been one of the most impressive players in the Dominican program. The 17-year-old shortstop out of Caracas was 2 for 3 with two walks. He has multiple hits in five of his 11 games, going .400/.471/.489 with more walks than strikeouts. Juan Henriquez scattered three hits over five scoreless innings, striking out five against two walks to earn the win.
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The other Red Sox-Cubs matchup was a much more even affair but produced the same victor, with Team Blue prevailing in the 10th. Kleyver Salazar delivered the winning base hit, plating automatic runner Yoeilin Cespedes. Starter Ricardo Rodriguez went four scoreless frames, giving up two hits and striking out four against one walk. Alisson Del Orbe continues to impress on the mound in relief. The 21-year-old had spent four years in the Rangers organization as a shortstop but singed with the Red Sox to convert to pitching. He struck out three in two perfect innings and has not giving up a run in his first five appearances, striking out 16 in 10 1/3 innings.
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Player of the Day: Brian Van Belle has turned in his best season as a professional, relying on his excellent durability and control. The University of Miami product was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and has consistently displayed an ability to pound the strike zone. Much of his success in 2023, however, has been his newfound ability to also limit the long ball. After giving up 33 in 137 1/3 innings across two levels last season, Van Belle has surrendered just eight round-trippers in his Eastern League-leading 76 innings. His 2.61 ERA ranks fourth in the circuit among pitchers with at least 40 innings, and he has struck out 65 against just 22 walks.
Photo Credit: Brian Van Belle by Kelly O'Connor