July 3, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Erro homers twice, drives in 8 runs; Perales strikes out 12
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Worcester Red Sox, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) (Postponed, rain)
Sunday's contest between between the WooSox and Bisons at Sahlen Field was postponed due to rain. It will be made up when Buffalo next travels to Worcester during the second week of August.
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A seven-run eighth inning propelled Portland to a come-from-behind win over New Hampshire. Top prospect Marcelo Mayer led the way offensively, going 3 for 5 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored. The homer was his 13th of the season and sixth since being promoted from Greenville in late May. Alex Binelas (8) and Niko Kavadas (13) also left the yard in the process of driving in three runs. Elih Marrero (2 for 5) doubled and Nick Yorke (1 for 5) tripled. Phillip Sikes, Nathan Hickey, and Corey Rosier drew two walks each. Sikes and Matthew Lugo each stole two bases while Rosier, Kavadas, and Mayer each swiped one bag. Four of those stolen bases came off Fisher Cats starter Alek Manoah.
A rehabbing Richard Bleier served as an opener for the Sea Dogs. The veteran lefty worked his way around a one-out single and struck out two in a scoreless first inning. Brian Van Belle took over from there and allowed five runs on seven hits, three walks, one hit batsman, and four strikeouts over five innings. Brendan Cellucci then earned the winning decision by fanning seven of the 11 batters he faced across three scoreless frames of relief.
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Alex Erro enjoyed an extremely productive afternoon at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a pair of three-run home runs and a two-run single for a total of eight RBIs. The home runs were his third and fourth of the season. Cleanup hitter Bryan Gonzalez also went deep for the seventh time this year as part of a three-hit effort in which he scored three runs. Tyler Miller, Ronald Rosario, and Eduardo Lopez combined for six hits. Miller went 2 for 5 with a run scored, Rosario went 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI, and three runs scored, and Lopez went 2 for 2 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Rosario and Lopez each drew two walks as well.
Juan Daniel Encarnacion picked up the win in his 13th start of the season for Greenville. The 22-year-old righty went six full innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and zero walks to go along with six strikeouts. He finished with 87 pitches (60 strikes) and induced 14 swings-and-misses. Out of the Drive bullpen, Brock Bell and Alex Hoppe combined to strike out four over three scoreless frames of relief to close it out.
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Luis Perales was extremely sharp in his 12th start of the season for Salem. The 20-year-old right-hander scattered two hits and two walks while striking out a career-high 12 batters over five scoreless innings of work. Of the 85 pitches he threw, 57 went for strikes and 20 resulted in a swing and a miss. In relief of Perales, Marques Johnson and Reidis Sena each gave up one run (Sena's run was unearned) before Jonathan Brand recorded the final four outs of the contest to notch his sixth save of the year.
Cutter Coffey paced the Red Sox lineup by going 3 for 5 with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base out of the leadoff spot. Batting behind him, Allan Castro went 2 for 4 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk. Salem's other two runs came on sacrifice flies from Alexis Hernandez and Enderso Lira. Though he did not record a hit, Ahbram Liendo reached base three times and stole his 29th base of the season. Claudio Simon also swiped a bag despite going hitless.
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Player of the Day: Alex Erro tied Greenville's single-game RBI record on Sunday by pushing across eight runs on three swings of the bat. The 25-year-old catcher also raised his slugging percentage by 57 points and is now slashing .300/.392/.438 on the season with six doubles, four home runs, 24 runs driven in, 25 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 20 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 39 games (153 plate appearances) for the Drive.
Photo Credit: Alex Erro by Kelly O'Connor