July 23, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: 17-year-old DSL catcher's 5-for-5 night highlights mixed day
7/23 Cup of Coffee: Saturday's slate was a busy one, with multiple games being resumed after Friday's delays. One of those needed just two pitches to find a resolution, thanks to Portland's Tyler Dearden (pictured). But stealing the show was a 17-year-old who had a game to remember.
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In the completion of a game that was postponed Friday night in the top of the fourth after an electrical issue caused the power to go out in right field, the RailRiders took care of business. Shane Drohan allowed four runs over three innings Friday before the game got called, taking the loss. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre tacked on another four runs in the 8th inning. Jake Faria pitched a stellar four innings in the resumption of the game, allowing just two hits, no walks, and striking out six. Ceddanne Rafaela was 1 for 5 with a two-run homer, but the offense couldn't muster much else, leaving 20 runners on base. David Hamilton had one hit and stole two bases.
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It may have only been 7 innings, but Worcester found the offense that was lacking in the first game of their truncated contest. Four-run innings in the third and sixth innings were more than enough offense for the victory. Incredibly, Niko Kavadas was the only Worcester hitter to record more than one hit; he was 2 for 2 with a walk and a 2-run home run, and he scored three times. Ceddanne Rafaela and Ryan Fitzgerald both recorded a hit and two RBI. Rio Gomez started for Worcester and allowed three hits and two walks but no runs. Chase Shugart earned the win despite giving up two earned runs in 1.2 innings. Andres Nunez threw 1 1/3 innings of hitless ball to close out the game.
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In another game that resumed Saturday after being suspended Friday, Portland needed just two pitches to break the deadlock and earn the win. On an 0-1 count in the bottom of the 9th, Tyler Dearden cranked a solo walk-off homer to settle the long-awaited result.
The Sea Dogs had a four-run lead entering the ninth, but the Fisher Cats came back to tie it before the game got called Friday due to rain. Trevor Story made his impact felt with a three-run home run in his first game of the season. Story played shortstop and went 1 for 2 with a walk and converted both his chances in the field. Marcelo Mayer went 1 for 4 with a triple and a walk while playing his first professional game at third base. Corey Rosier went 2 for 3 with a solo home run, while Chase Meidroth, Blaze Jordan, and Phillip Sikes doubled.
Joe Jones served as the opener and pitched a scoreless first before giving way to Corey Kluber. In his first rehab appearance, Kluber allowed one baserunner over two scoreless innings. Hunter Dobbins went the next five innings, striking out eight while allowing two runs. Ryan Zeferjahn was charged with four runs while recording one out in the ninth.
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Portland appeared to be cruising to victory until the Fisher Cats scored four in the 9th to steal the victory. Grant Gambrell pitched six impressive innings, scattering six hits and two walks and allowing just two runs, striking out 9 in the process. Christopher Troye added a scoreless inning, but Jacob Webb surrendered four earned runs in an uncharacteristic tough outing. Nathan Hickey and Alex Binelas both recorded 2-for-4 outings with a 2-run home run apiece. Chase Meidroth added two hits, and Marcelo Mayer added a hit and a run. Trevor Story's second rehab appearance added less fanfare, as he was 0 for 4 with four strikeouts.
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Leaving 18 runners on base proved costly for Greenville, who couldn't match the Asheville offensive output. The lack of offense was no fault of Brainer Bonaci, who had three hits and an RBI. Nick Decker added a solo home run. Juan Daniel Encarnacion got the start and pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and four earned runs but no walks and six strikeouts. Felix Cepeda pitched 1 2/3 nearly perfect innings, giving up just one walk.
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A four-run 8th inning broke a 1-1 tie and helped Salem cruise to victory against the Wood Ducks. Salem scored five runs on only 7 hits, 3 of which came from Cutter Coffey who set the table at the top of the order. Alexis Hernandez went 1 for 4 with an RBI. Yorberto Mejicano also had a hit and an RBI. Jedixson Paez threw five innings of one-run ball, allowing only three hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. Cody Scroggins got the win after throwing two scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. Marques Johnson threw two hitless innings and struck out three.
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In this shortened 7-inning contest, the teams combined for just 10 hits but the Red Sox made the most of their limited opportunities to hold on for a win. Natanael Yuten and Gilberto Jimenez combined for four hits and three RBI, Angel Pierre added the other Red Sox hit, and Fraymi De Leon scored twice. Luis Cohen earned the win, allowing four hits and a walk across five innings. He struck out six and allowed two earned runs. Stijn Van Der Schaff walked one and surrendered just one hit in two innings.
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A consistent and unrelenting attack gave Red Sox Red a convincing win against the DSL Nationals squad. The winners' 19-hit attack was spurred by Gerardo Rodriguez, who went 5 for 5 with a home run, 3 RBI and four runs scored. Franyer Noria added four hits including a triple, contributing 3 RBI and crossing the plate twice. Yohander Linarez added three hits and Nixson Cueche had two in the rout. On the mound, Juan Henriquez earned the win, going 5 innings and allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Denison Sanchez, Argeny Sanchez, and Deybi Salcedo also pitched a scoreless inning apiece.
A late attempt at a rally fell short as Red Sox Blue gave up 9 runs over 3 innings in a loss on Saturday. Blue jumped out to a 2-0 lead but the Pirates responded with a flurry of runs from the fifth through the seventh innings. Ricardo Rodriguez pitched two scoreless innings but gave up two earned runs in the third before getting pulled. Juan Valera pitched a scoreless fourth, but Hanssel De Los Santos took the loss after a tough fifth inning. Raimundo De Los Santos had the only multi-hit game for Blue with a 2-for-6 afternoon. Yoeilin Cespedes hit his third triple of the season in the contest.
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Player of the Day: Gerardo Rodriguez isn't ranked in the SoxProspects Top 60. With more performances like today, that might change. His 5-for-5 night with four runs scored raised his batting average to .370, with a .952 OPS. Never heard of him? Don't worry, you've got time -- he's only 17 years old. Signed as an international free agent in January, Rodriguez is showing flashes that he might be a force to be reckoned with. Keep an eye on this young rising catcher.
Photo Credit: Tyler Dearden by Kelly O'Connor