May 11, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Salem no-hits Columbia for 10-plus innings, Mayer knocks two hits
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There was plenty of offense in western New York, but the Red Sox were unable to hold onto a 7-4 lead after five innings, fueled by a five-run second inning. Despite the lofty run total, Worcester recorded just six hits and no hitter had more than one and Niko Kavadas, who went deep in the third, had the only extra-base hit. Naoyuki Uwasawa took the mound and contributed four innings, with five hits and a walk turning into three runs. He also struck out two Bisons. Four other arms combined to complete the remaining four frames, but Melvin Adon, who had 1 1/3 scoreless innings, was the highlight.
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Binghamton jumped all over Portland, scoring four in the top of the first. While the Sea Dogs scored five over the first three innings to take the lead, the visitors tied it in the top of the fourth and Portland was unable to complete a second comeback as the tying run reached the plate. Marcelo Mayer continued his hot streak with a 2-for-5 performance, but he was outdone by Nick Yorke and Eddinson Paulino, both of whom were 3 for 5. Paulino was a home run short of the cycle. The starting nod went to Wikelman Gonzalez, who surrendered four runs in three-plus innings of work. None of the four arms to work for Portland escaped without surrendering at least one run.
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Dalton Rogers handled the first five innings of the shutout and dealt with plenty of traffic, with three hits and four walks to go along with a quartet of strikeouts. Gabriel Jackson came next, with just two hits and one walk with a single punchout over 3 1/3 innings before ceding to Isacc Stebens. He struck out both the batters he faced to close the contest. There wasn't much offense on either side, as Greenville had just five base knocks, two of which were by Benjamin Blackwell. Kristian Campbell had the only run scored.
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Ever see a team score five runs while recording just one hit? That's what happened in a wild contest between Columbia and Salem on Friday night. The bottom of the ninth ended with no hits for Columbia, as Noah Dean contributed five no-hit innings and Trennor O'Donnell followed with four more. They each surrendered just two walks each. The only problem? Salem had just three itself and wasn't able to score a run, sending it to extras. They scratched one across on a sacrifice fly in the 10th and left the bases loaded. CJ Weins entered to close it out and almost gave up the first base hit on what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt, but the out was recorded just in time and a wild pitch gave the unique distinction of scoring a run without a hit due to the automatic runner at second base.
He was able to get through the frame without further incident and it was onto the 11th, when Natanael Yuten delivered an inside-the-park home run. Weins walked two, then allowed a double to end the no-hitter after 10-plus innings and Columbia walked it off with a sacrifice fly.
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It was a shorter contest on Friday afternoon and the Red Sox scored three in the penultimate frame, but they stranded the tying run at first base in the seventh. The Twins got their runs scored early, each of which came in the first three frames and on Adam Bates, who was charged with five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of work. He was replaced by Jesus Garcia, who had 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief. Seven of the nine Red Sox hitters recorded hits and Frederik Jimenez reached base three times, as he was walked twice.
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Player of the Day: It's always going to be the no-hitter. Two pitched the first nine innings, but Noah Dean got the lion's share of the time, contributing five innings to Trennor O'Donnell's four. It hasn't been the best start to the year for the New Jersey native, with a 7.36 ERA heading into the night, but he's still learning to be a starter after operating out of the bullpen at Old Dominion. He has good velocity from the left side and was able to use that to keep Columbia off-balance.
Photo Credit: Noah Dean by Kelly O'Connor