May 16, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Bleis, Mayer stay hot; Bastardo strikes out eight
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In the first and perhaps only start of his rehab assignment, Garrett Whitlock was sharp for Worcester. The righty scattered two hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. He finished with 61 pitches (40 strikes) and induced 12 swings-and-misses. Josh Winckowski, making his first appearance since being optioned over the weekend, took the loss after surrendering the game's only run in the top of the seventh. Luis Guerrero and Ryan Zeferjahn combined for two scoreless frames of relief. At the plate, Chase Meidroth and Enmanuel Valdez each drew two walks. Pablo Reyes, in his first action of any kind since late April, went 1 for 3 with a walk and stolen base.
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Angel Bastardo went five innings in his start for Portland. The righty allowed one run on three hits (including a solo homer), one walk, and eight strikeouts. He threw 70 pitches (49 strikes) and induced 15 whiffs. CJ Liu took over and impressed in his first appearance of the year for the Sea Dogs by fanning five of the 10 batters he faced over three scoreless, no-hit frames of relief. Offensively, Marcelo Mayer accounted for half of his side's hits by going 2 for 4 with a walk. Matthew Lugo and Tyler McDonough each went 1 for 3 with a stolen base.
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Luis Perales took the loss in his start for Greenville. The righty surrendered three earned runs on six hits, two walks, and five strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. On the other side of things, Mikey Romero tripled and scored a run in his first appearance at Fluor Field. Kristian Campbell stayed hot by going 2 for 4 with one double and one RBI. Juan Chacon and Bryan Gonzalez went back-to-back in the seventh inning for their first and sixth home runs of the season, respectively.
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Miguel Bleis enjoyed another multi-hit performance, going 2 for 4 with a walk and stolen base. Albert Feliz led the way with three hits, including an RBI single that opened the scoring in the second inning. Antonio Anderson and Marvin Alcantara drove in Salem's next three runs. Nelly Taylor and Andy Lugo each doubled. On the mound, Jojo Ingrassia went 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the first start of his professional career. The lefty walked four and struck out four on 58 pitches (31 strikes). Nathanael Cruz, Jedixson Paez, and Max Carlson combined to give up just one unearned run over 6 1/3 frames of relief to close things out.
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Player of the Day: He may have taken the loss, but Angel Bastardo put together another encouraging outing for Portland on Wednesday. The 21-year-old Venezuelan now owns a 3.66 ERA with 39 strikeouts to 15 walks in seven starts (32 innings) this season. He has held opposing hitters to a .172 batting average against so far.
Photo Credit: Angel Bastardo by Kelly O'Connor