August 14, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Abreu caps off epic week in Worcester with three-homer game
8/14 Cup of Coffee: Sunday's slate featured two blowout wins and two close, low-scoring losses for Boston's minor-league affiliates. In Worcester, the trio of Wilyer Abreu (pictured), Bobby Dalbec, and Stephen Scott combined to hit six home runs as the WooSox triumphed over Buffalo. In Greenville, Max Ferguson and Bryan Gonzalez each homered, while Noah Song started and tossed two scoreless innings for the Drive in their victory over Greensboro. Elsewhere, Wikelman Gonzalez put together a fine effort in Portland, while Marvin Alcantara and Noah Dean broke out in Salem.
-----
Wilyer Abreu accounted for half of the six home runs Worcester hit in Sunday's series finale at Polar Park. The three-hole hitter went 3 for 5 with two two-run blasts and a solo shot to bring his home run total on the season to 20. Bobby Dalbec also enjoyed a multi-homer performance, going 2 for 4 with a pair of solo shots for Nos. 29 and 30 on the year. Stephen Scott fittingly closed out the scoring by going back-to-back with Dalbec in the eighth inning for his 10th big fly in a WooSox uniform. Scott had doubled prior to that, so he finished his day having gone 2 for 5 with two extra-base hits, an RBI, and two runs scored. Out of the leadoff spot, David Hamilton went 2 for 4 with a run-scoring single, a run scored, a walk, and his 44th stolen base. Enmanuel Valdez (1 for 3) and Christian Arroyo (2 for 5) each doubled as well.
Rio Gomez went four innings in his ninth start of the season for Worcester. The 28-year-old lefty allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Of the 90 pitches he threw, 53 went for strikes. In relief of Gomez, Cam Booser surrendered a solo homer to Ernie Clement in the top of the sixth inning. Nick Robertson, Joe Jacques, and Justin Garza then combined for three scoreless frames out of the WooSox bullpen.
-----
Wikelman Gonzalez was solid in his fifth start of the season for Portland. The 21-year-old righty allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk to go along with eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of work. He finished with 97 pitches (66 strikes) and induced 16 swings-and-misses. In relief of Gonzalez, Alex Hoppe and Luis Guerrero combined for 3 1/3 scoreless, no-hit frames out of the Sea Dogs bullpen. Wyatt Olds was then charged with the loss as the automatic runner crossed the plate on a Tyler Esplin fielding error with two outs in the top of the 10th.
Brainer Bonaci and Matthew Lugo paced the Portland lineup by each going 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Unlike Lugo, though, Bonaci added a walk and swiped his first bag at the Double-A level. Elih Marrero and Blaze Jordan both recorded run-scoring doubles for their only hits of the contest. Tyler McDonough also went 1 for 4 with an RBI, which he collected via a fifth-inning sacrifice fly.
-----
Every member of Greenville's starting lineup recorded at least one hit on Sunday. Max Ferguson, the No. 9 hitter, led the way offensively by going 2 for 4 with his fourth home run of the season and a team-high three RBIs. Bryan Gonzalez also went deep for the 10th time this year in the process of driving in two runs and stealing one base. Like Gonzalez, leadoff man Roman Anthony pushed across two runs as well. Batting behind him, Kyle Teel made his only hit of the day count with a run-scoring double in the fourth inning. Cutter Coffey drew two walks while going 1 for 2 with an RBI out of the eight-hole.
Noah Song made his first start and second appearance for the Drive since returning to the Red Sox organization earlier this month. The 26-year-old righty was responsible for the first two innings of Sunday's series finale and gave up just one hit and no walks while striking out three of the seven batters he faced. Jordan DiValerio followed with two scoreless frames of his own, ultimately picking up the winning decision before making way for Robert Kwiatkowski, who served up a solo homer to Termarr Johnson but fanned four over two innings. Dan Altavilla put up a zero in the seventh and Reidis Sena allowed one run in the eighth. Brock Bell then worked his way around a leadoff walk in an otherwise clean ninth inning to lower his ERA on the season to 2.28.
-----
It was an interesting day on the mound for Jedisxon Paez. Making his 15th start of the season, the 19-year-old righty surrendered five runs (three earned) on 10 hits (ties a season high), one walk, and one hit batsman to go along with eight strikeouts over five innings. He finished with 83 pitches (58 strikes) and elicited 12 whiffs. Noah Dean took over for Paez to start the sixth and was sharp in his first-ever professional relief appearance. The Old Dominion product scattered just one hit and two walks while striking out six of the 16 batters he faced across four scoreless frames. Of the 81 pitches he threw, 51 went for strikes.
On what was an otherwise quiet afternoon for the Red Sox lineup, Marvin Alcantara broke out of an 0 for 9 slump to begin his Low-A career by doubling in two runs for his only hit of the day in the sixth inning. Alcantara's double play partner, Luis Ravelo, accounted for Salem's only other run by pushing across Alexis Hernandez earlier in the inning. Hernandez and Gilberto Jimenez each stole a base while Enderso Lira drew a team-high two walks.
-----
Player of the Day: It's difficult to find a hotter hitter than Wilyer Abreu right now. After hitting a grand slam on Saturday, the 24-year-old outfielder closed out the weekend by putting together the first three-homer game of his professional career. As such, Abreu -- the organization's 23rd-ranked prospect -- is deserving of this award for the second straight day and is on his way to taking home Player of the Week honors for the first time.
Photo Credit: Wilyer Abreu by Kelly O'Connor