July 7, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Feliz powers Salem; De La Cruz, Martinez combine for DSL no-no
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One day after exploding for seven home runs, the Worcester lineup was held to just one run on five hits. Enmanuel Valdez had three of those five knocks, and he is now 7 for 12 since his return from the injured list. Narciso Crook and Nick Sogard both doubled, with Sogard adding a walk and the WooSox lone run. Rio Gomez had an otherwise strong start spoiled by a pair of solo home runs. He allowed two runs on three hits in five innings, striking out five without issuing a walk.
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A four-run second inning was highlighted by back-to-back homers by Corey Rosier and Tyler McDonough. Rosier also singled along with his two-run shot while McDonough added a walk and a stolen base. Matthew Lugo doubled as part of his three-hit effort, and Alex Binelas had a double, walk, and steal. Hunter Dobbins matched his career high with 10 strikeouts in the victory. The 23-year-old righty allowed one run on four hits in 5 2/3, walking a pair. Jacob Webb and Joe Jones combined for 3 1/3 shutout innings out of the bullpen.
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The Drive had a four-run, eighth-inning comeback capped by a two-run homer off the bat of Brainer Bonaci. It was the eighth round-tripper of the season in 41 games for the shortstop, who also added a double. Bryan Gonzalez doubled and scored a run as part of his 3-for-4 effort on a night where every Greenville starter reached base. Angel Bastardo continues to be one of the most consistent starters in the organization. He turned in a quality effort on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits in six innings, striking out six and walking three. Despite ranking second in the South Atlantic League with 96 strikeouts and having seven starts of at least five innings with two or fewer earned runs allowed, Bastardo is still in search of his first victory of 2023.
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Salem dominated with a 16-hit attack that included seven extra-base knocks. Albert Feliz was a double short of the cycle, going 4 for 5 with a home run, triple, three runs scored, and three RBIs. The effort extended Feliz's hitting streak to nine games. Alexis Hernandez was 3 for 4 with a walk and a steal, while Allan Castro reached base four times with a double and three walks. Castro scored a run, drove in a pair, and stole a base. Cutter Coffey, the sport's most appropriately named leadoff hitter, was a stimulant for the rest of the lineup, delivering an eighth-inning homer and scoring three times as part of his 2-for-5 effort.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz got the start, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in four innings. He struck out six and walked three as his ERA inched down to 2.53. Nathanael Cruz got the win in relief, giving up a run on three hits.
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Wyatt Olds had a second straight strong start in his FCL reset stint. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed one run on five hits in four innings, striking out five. Most importantly, he issued just one walk, a crucial sign after struggling mightily with his control with Portland. Elvis Soto got credit for the win for his three shutout innings of relief. He scattered two hits, struck out four, and walked one before giving way to Caleb Ramsay, who went two scoreless frames. Angel Pierre led the way at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double, walk, and RBI. Natanael Yuten and Karim Ayubi added two hits apiece.
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It was a historic day for Team Blue, as Nicolas De La Cruz and Jose Martinez combined for a seven-inning no-hitter, facing the minimum 21 batters. The only downside is that it came against Boston's other DSL affiliate. De La Cruz walked Franklin Arias, the second batter of the game, and then promptly erased that by inducing a double play. He then retired the next nine batters he faced, followed by Martinez going three straight perfect innings. De La Cruz struck out four and Martinez one.
The gem made a tough-luck loser out of Gilberto Batista, who got the start for the Red squad. Batista gave up one run on five hits in five innings, striking out four and walking one. With the walk, Arias continued his on-base streak, as he has reached in all 18 games in which he has appeared, but hit hitting streak was snapped at eight games.
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Player of the Day: First baseman Albert Feliz led Salem's offensive explosion amidst his resurgent season, delivering his second home run and first triple of 2023. The 21-year-old was hitting just .184/.316/.257 through his first 38 games, but is 18 for 36 with six extra-base hits during his nine-game surge. Feliz was originally signed in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic to a $400,000 bonus and went on to hit nine home runs the next summer in the DSL, the most by any Red Sox player at that level since 2006.
Photo Credit: Albert Feliz by Kelly O'Connor