April 25, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Castro walks it off in Greenville; Mayer nearly hits for cycle
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Richard Fitts had a rough outing in Game 1 of Wednesday's twin bill. The 24-year-old righty was charged with his first loss of the season after allowing five earned runs on seven hits, three walks, and four strikeouts over four innings. Chase Shugart followed with two scoreless frames out of the bullpen. Chase Meidroth and Nick Sogard accounted for five of Worcester's eight hits. The former went 3 for 4 with a run scored out of the leadoff spot while the latter went 2 for 3 with a double, run scored, and a walk. Nathan Hickey also doubled in a run for his lone hit of the contest.
Grant Gambrell was Worcester's only pitcher in Game 2, so he was credited with the first complete game of his professional career. The right-hander yielded three earned runs on eight hits, zero walks, and a season-high nine strikeouts over six quality innings. He did, however, fall to 0-3 on the year. Offensively, Mark Contreras led the way by going 1 for 4 with a two-run triple. Nick Sogard collected two more hits while the rehabbing Vaughn Grissom went 0 for 1 with three walks and a stolen base.
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Marcelo Mayer nearly hit for the cycle, going 3 for 4 with a double, a solo homer, three runs scored, and a walk. Nick Decker also clubbed a solo shot while Nick Yorke drilled a three-run shot for his second big fly of the year. Eddinson Paulino and Blaze Jordan each hit doubles, with the latter going 2 for 5 with two RBIs and one run scored to extend his hitting streak to five games.
Zach Penrod struggled in his third start of the season for Portland. The 26-year-old southpaw lasted just 2 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs (three earned) on four hits (including one home run), four walks, and three strikeouts. Out of the Sea Dogs bullpen, Wyatt Olds, Jacob Webb, and Felix Cepeda combined to fan nine over 6 2/3 scoreless frames of relief.
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The Drive trailed by three going into the ninth but came away as victors thanks to Allan Castro's walk-off three-run double. Like Castro, Bryan Gonzalez also had multiple hits, as he went 2 for 4 with an RBI double, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Cutter Coffey drove in two runs while singling and drawing a walk out of the leadoff spot. Kristian Campbell went 0 for 1 with two walks and a run scored in his first appearance since last Wednesday.
Cooper Adams went five innings in his second start of the season for Greenville. The 23-year-old righty allowed three earned runs on three hits (two homers), two walks, and four strikeouts. Of the 74 pitches he threw, 44 went for strikes. Bryce Bonnin made his organizational debut out of the bullpen and worked a scoreless sixth inning. Caleb Bolden picked up the win after recording the final two outs in the top of the ninth.
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Matt Duffy pitched well in his fourth start of the season for Salem. The 22-year-old righty surrendered only one earned run on three hits (including a solo homer), zero walks, and six strikeouts over five solid innings. He finished with 56 pitches (43 strikes) and did not factor into the decision. Albert Feliz drove in all three Salem runs; doubling in a pair in the fifth and pushing across another on a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Daniel McElveny scored two of those runs while going 1 for 2 with a walk in his 2024 debut.
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Player of the Day: Marcelo Mayer came into play Wednesday amid a 1-for-15 skid, but he broke out of that in a big way by recording his second three-hit game of the season. The talented shortstop is now batting .317/.344/.500 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 14 games for Portland this year. He is currently ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the organization.
Photo Credit: Marcelo Mayer by Kelly O'Connor