April 15, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Paulino, Teel homer as Portland wins fourth straight
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Despite scoring the first five runs, Worcester fell in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against Syracuse. Brian Van Belle went just 3 2/3 innings for the second straight start, allowing four earned runs on nine hits (three home runs), zero walks, and zero strikeouts. AJ Politi took the loss in relief after yielding four runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth. Three members of the WooSox' starting lineup recorded multiple hits. Chase Meidroth went 2 for 4 with an RBI, Mark Contreras went 2 for 4 with a run-scoring double, and Eddy Alvarez went 2 for 3 with a double and run scored. Niko Kavadas homered for the second time this season while Nick Sogard scored two runs. The rehabbing duo of Vaughn Grissom and Rob Refsnyder combined to go 1 for 7 with a run, a walk, and four strikeouts.
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Making up Saturday's rainout, Worcester bounced back in Sunday's series finale. Tyler McDonough led the way offensively by going 2 for 4 with two RBIs and one run scored out of the nine-hole. Nathan Hickey also scored once and drove in two runs as part of a 1 for 2 showing in which he drew two walks. Chase Meidroth went 0 for 1 with one RBI, one run, and three walks on the afternoon. Jorge Benitez took home the winning decision after taking over for Jason Alexander and surrendering just one run on one hit (a solo homer) over 2 1/3 innings of relief.
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It was another productive day at the plate for Eddinson Paulino, who went 2 for 5 with a double, a three-run home run, and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Kyle Teel also went yard for the first time this season while Matthew Lugo drilled his second of the year. Though they did not go deep, Marcelo Mayer, Nick Yorke, and Alex Binelas each had two hits. Ryan Zeferjahn pitched well out of the Sea Dogs bullpen, striking out two of the six batters he faced over two scoreless frames to pick up his first save of the season.
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Cutter Coffey broke out of a 1 for 15 skid to begin the season by going 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Tyler Miller, Kristian Campbell, and Luis Ravelo each had doubles as well while Allan Castro tripled and scored a run. Like Coffey and Ravelo, Miguel Ugueto also had two hits. Nathan Landry picked up the win by scattering one hit and one walk with two strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Jonathan Brand and Caleb Bolden combined for three scoreless frames of relief to close things out.
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Marvin Alcantara drove in Salem's lone run with a seventh-inning RBI double. Miguel Bleis went 1 for 3 with his first two stolen bases of the season. Luis Cohen fell to 0-2 in two starts after allowing one earned run on three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts over three innings. Austin Ehrlicher gave up two more unearned runs while fanning seven in three innings while Nathanael Cruz got taken deep in the bottom of the eighth.
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Player of the Day: After homering in both games of Saturday's doubleheader in Reading, Eddinson Paulino stayed hot by going deep yet again for Portland on Sunday. The left-handed hitting 21-year-old is now batting .292/.346/.708 with three home runs and eight RBIs through six games on the young season. He is currently ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the organization.
Photo Credit: Eddinson Paulino by Kelly O'Connor