August 3, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Abreu, Rafaela power Worcester; Anthony, Perales propel Greenville
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It was a back-and-forth affair for the WooSox and Mets in Syracuse. Wilyer Abreu paced the Worcester lineup, going 3 for 5 with a go-ahead two-run home run (14) and two runs scored out of the six-hole. He also added a stolen base and two outfield assists. In a similar fashion, Ceddanne Rafaela made his only hit of the day count, launching a solo home run (his second in as many days). Rafaela also scored two runs and worked a season-high four walks. Like Abreu, Rafaela stole one base and picked up one outfield assist. Stephen Scott left the yard as well, as he went 2 for 5 with a double and a three-run blast for his sixth big fly at the Triple-A level. The rehabbing Trevor Story, meanwhile, went 1 for 5 with an RBI double and three strikeouts while playing seven innings at shortstop.
Dinelson Lamet went five innings in his fourth start of the season for Worcester. The 31-year-old right-hander allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks to go along with four strikeouts. Of the 88 pitches he threw, 51 went for strikes and 12 were whiff-inducing. Out of the WooSox bullpen, Chase Shugart got tagged for four runs by giving up a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning. From there, though, Oddanier Mosqueda, Justin Garza, and Justin Hagenman combined for 3 2/3 scoreless frames of relief. Mosqueda earned the winning decision while Hagenman recorded his first save in a WooSox uniform.
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Behind five scoreless innings from Sterling Sharp, the Sea Dogs put an end to a three-game losing streak on Wednesday afternoon by blanking the Baysox. Sharp, making his 14th start of the season for Portland, scattered five hits and three walks while striking out two on 82 pitches (51 strikes). Ryan Miller, Alex Hoppe, and Luis Guerrero then saw the shutout bid through to its completion by combining for four scoreless frames out of the bullpen. Hoppe, in what was his Double-A debut, needed just 11 pitches (10 strikes) to retire the side in order in the eighth. Guerrero, on the other hand, worked his way around a one-out walk in the ninth to notch his 15th save of the year.
Elih Marrero tallied a team-high three hits for Portland, going 3 for 4 with a double out of the nine-hole. In addition to compiling just his second three-hit game of the season, Marrero threw out a runner at second base and is now 15 for 36 in throwing out base stealers on the year. Tyler Dearden also enjoyed a multi-hit day for the Sea Dogs, as the left fielder went 2 for 4 with an RBI double. Batting behind him, Tyler Esplin went 1 for 4 with a run-scoring single that pushed across Blaze Jordan. Chase Meidroth and Nathan Hickey crossed home plate as well.
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Leadoff man Roman Anthony led the way offensively for Greenville, going 3 for 4 with a double, a game-tying RBI triple, two runs scored, and a walk en route to finishing a homer shy of the cycle. Eddinson Paulino also had three hits (all singles) and added a stolen base. Batting in front of him, Bryan Gonzalez went 2 for 5 with two RBIs, the second of which came on a walk-off, swinging-bunt single that brought in Anthony in the 10th inning. Alex Erro and Allan Castro each recorded run-scoring doubles. Max Ferguson also drove in a run.
Luis Perales was impressive in his third start of the season for Greenville. The 20-year-old righty allowed just one unearned run while scattering four hits and three walks to go along with 10 strikeouts over five strong innings. He finished with 82 pitches (50 strikes) and induced 18 swings-and-misses. Out of the bullpen, a pair of relievers made their Drive debuts. Dan Altavilla (on a rehab assignment from Worcester) surrendered one run in two innings. Reidis Sena (recently promoted from Salem) then got tagged for two runs in the eighth and was charged with the blown save as a result. Brock Bell picked up the winning decision by fanning four of the nine batters he faced.
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Not much went right for Salem on Wednesday night. Jose Ramirez lasted just two-thirds of an inning in his 16th start of the season. The 22-year-old surrendered four runs in that time, but only one was earned as a result of a two-out fielding error. Caleb Bolden took over for Ramirez earlier than expected and pitched well in long relief, striking out five and walking only one over 3 1/3 scoreless, no-hit frames. Royman Blanco was then shelled for three runs on five hits in the fifth and sixth before the rehabbing Cody Scroggins came on and contributed with two shutout innings of his own.
Salem's lone run came by way of the long ball, as Albert Feliz crushed a solo shot in the sixth inning for his fourth homer of the year and his only hit of the evening. Lyonell James and Mikey Romero each went 1 for 3, with the former doubling and the latter drawing his side's only walk. Gilberto Jimenez, making his first appearance for a full-season affiliate since late April, went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts out of the leadoff spot.
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Player of the Day: Between what he did offensively and defensively, Wilyer Abreu is worthy of Wednesday's award. Following his second three-hit showing of the season, the switch-hitting outfielder is now batting .246/.363/.452 with seven doubles, one triple, 14 home runs, 42 RBIs, 51 runs scored, six stolen bases, 48 walks, and 67 strikeouts in 71 games (300 plate appearances) with the WooSox this season. He also leads Worcester in outfield assists with nine on the year.
Photo Credit: Wilyer Abreu by Kelly O'Connor