May 27, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Alvarez, Campbell, and Mayer all homer; Bleis extends hitting streak
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The WooSox suffered their fifth straight loss on Sunday. Josh Winckowski got the start on the mound and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits, one walk, and four strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings. Luis Guerrero struck out three across 1 2/3 scoreless frames of relief. Eddy Alvarez led the way offensively by going 3 for 3 with two home runs, three RBIs, three runs scored, and one walk. Jamie Westbrook went 2 for 3 with a double and homer while Tyler Heineman went deep for his lone hit of the afternoon. Chase Meidroth doubled in two runs while Mark Contreras went 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI triple, and two runs scored.
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CJ Liu took the loss in his start for Portland. The righty surrendered four earned runs on four hits (including three homers), one walk, and three strikeouts over two innings. At the plate, Marcelo Mayer went 1 for 3 with a walk and his fifth home run of the season. Kyle Teel went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and one run scored. Matthew Lugo doubled in two runs and added a triple as part of a 2 for 4 afternoon of his own.
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Hayden Mullins went 4 2/3 innings in his start for Greenville. The lefty yielded three earned runs on four hits, four walks, one hit batsman, and seven strikeouts. All three of those runs came by way of a three-run homer in the bottom of the second. Isaac Stebens also fell victim to the long ball, as he gave up two solo shots out of the bullpen. Offensively, Kristian Campbell paced the Drive lineup by going 2 for 4 with a two-run home run for his seventh big fly of the season. Ahbram Liendo stroked two hits and drove in a run while Bryan Gonzalez went 1 for 3 with a walk, run, and stolen base.
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A four-run eighth inning lifted Salem to a series-clinching win on Sunday. Stanley Tucker had the biggest hit of the afternoon, going 1 for 4 with a go-ahead two-run single. Freili Encarnacion also drove in a pair of runs as part of a 1 for 2 showing. Jhostynxon Garcia and Nelly Taylor each went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored. Taylor recorded an RBI as well. Miguel Bleis extended his hitting streak to 11 games by going 1 for 3 with a single. Nazzan Zanetello drew two walks.
Luis Cohen got the start for Salem on his 21st birthday. The righty did not factor into the decision after allowing three earned runs on four hits (including one homer), zero walks, and zero strikeouts over four innings. Michael Sansone scattered four hits and four punchouts across four innings of one-run ball to pick up the win. CJ Weins worked his way around two walks to put up a zero in the ninth and notch his second save of the year.
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Player of the Day: Eddy Alvarez wrapped up a productive week by putting together his second multi-homer game in six days on Sunday. The left-handed hitting 34-year-old went 9 for 18 (.500) with one double, four home runs, 10 RBIs, six runs scored, three walks, and four strikeouts in five games against Norfolk at Polar Park. He is now batting .267/.353/.517 with seven homers and 30 runs driven in over 38 games (137 plate appearances) for Worcester so far this season.
Photo Credit: Eddy Alvarez by Kelly O'Connor