Cup of Coffee: Rodriguez shines for Salem as Yuten provides punch

4/26 Cup of Coffee: All four full-season affiliates were in action on Thursday and three came away with victories. A sterling effort by Elmer Rodriugez (pictured) and a pair of relievers along with a Natanael Yuten blast gave Salem the victory. Portland also prevailed in a pitchers' duel, with Helcris Olivarez proving nearly unhittable. Worcester delivered a four-run, ninth-inning rally to come from behind in its win, with only Greenville dropping its contest. 

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Worcester Red Sox 7, Toledo Mud Hens (DET) 5

Trailing 5-3 headed into the ninth inning, the WooSox stormed ahead on back-to-back two-run doubles by Eddy Alvarez and Jamie Westbrook. Westbrook had previously driven in a run on a two-bagger in the fourth. Elih Marrero delivered a double and a two-run homer, while Karson Simas was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored. Luis Guerrero got credit for the win in relief, allowing just one hit in two scoreless frames, striking out four against two walks. Starter Brian Van Belle went five innings, giving up four runs on 10 hits. 

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Portland Sea Dogs 3, Hartford Yard Goats (COL) 2

A two-run homer off the bat of Nick Yorke highlighted a three-run first inning that would give Helcris Olivarez all the support he would need. Olivarez gave up just one hit across five scoreless innings, striking out six and walking one to earn his first win as a member of the Red Sox organization. Ryan Zeferjahn surrendered a pair of unearned runs in his two innings of work, followed by two hitless frames from Alex Hoppe. Blaze Jordan was 3 for 4 at the plate, extending his hitting streak to six games. He's 10 for 26 during that stretch. 

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Greensboro Grasshoppers (PIT) 11, Greenville Drive 1

The Drive's victory on Wednesday gave them their first consecutive win of the season, but little went right in Thursday's attempt to take their third in a row. Starting pitcher Connelly Early went four innings, surrendering six runs on five hits including a pair of home runs. Adam Smith made his organizational debut, surrendering three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Allan Castro and Miguel Ugueto delivered matching lines at the plate, with both outfielders going 2 for 4 with a double

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Salem Red Sox 3, Carolina Mudcats (MIL) 1

A trio of Salem hurlers struck out 17 batters en route to the win. Elmer Rodriguez got the start, giving up one run on three hits in five innings, striking out seven against one walk. The effort gave the 2021 fourth-round pick his first winning decision since June of last year. Trennor O'Donnell struck out five in two scoreless innings, surrendering just a pair of singles. Max Carlson went two perfect frames for the save, striking out five of the six batters he saw and throwing 18 of 23 pitches for strikes. A Natanael Yuten three-run third-inning homer provided all of the run scoring for Salem. Nazzan Zanetello was 2 for 2 with a run scored before getting lifted for a pinch hitter, while Andy Lugo doubled as part of his two-hit evening. 

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Player of the Day: Elmer Rodriguez gets the nod as player of the day, though you could argue that the two relievers who followed him were even more effective. With seven strikeouts in five innings, Rodriugez now has 27 in 16 frames as he lowered his ERA to 3.38. Perhaps more importantly, the 20-year-old right-hander did not beat himself, walking just one batter after issuing eight walks in 11 innings in his first three appearances. Rodriguez is knocking on the door of the organizational top 20, sitting as the 23rd-ranked prospect in the system.

Photo Credit: Elmer Rodriguez by Kelly O'Connor

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