May 29, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Teel homers, Contreras has big night for WooSox
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Chase Meidroth had a great night from the top spot in the batting order, reaching base four times in five trips with three singles and a hit-by-pitch. He also stole his eighth base of the year. Mark Contreras was phenomenal from the bottom spot in the order, going 3 for 4 with his third bomb of the year and two runs scored. Corey Rosier belted a home run and took a walk, while Bobby Dalbec singled, walked twice, and knocked in a run. Naoyuki Uwasawa started and took the loss, surrendering five earned runs over 4 1/3 frames. He struck out four and walked a pair. Isaiah Campbell tossed a clean inning with one strikeout, and Chase Shugart struck out four and walked none over two innings, although he allowed three earned runs.
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Kyle Teel had a big night at the dish, going 1 for 3 with his fourth long ball of the season. He also drew a walk, raising his OPS to .849 on the year. Mickey Gasper went 2 for 4 with an RBI single and his 12th double of the season. Marcelo Mayer went 1 for 4 and scored a run, and Nick Decker had an RBI single to go along with a walk. Wikelman Gonzalez gave up six runs (five earned) over four innings of work. He walked four and struck out just two in the loss. Theo Denlinger tossed a scoreless fifth inning before Wyatt Olds came on and dominated for three innings. The righty did not allow a run or a hit with three strikeouts and just one free pass.
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It was a very quiet night for the Greenville bats with just four hits. Ronald Rosario and Luis Ravelo managed to be productive however, as each went 1 for 2 with a pair of walks. Cutter Coffey doubled for the Drive's lone extra-base knock. Dalton Rogers started and labored through 4 2/3 innings, tossing 86 pitches. The lefty allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Jeremy Wu-Yelland and Reidis Sena each allowed two earned runs, but both managed three strikeouts and no walks.
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Nelly Taylor came through in the clutch, crushing a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning. Unfortunately it wasn't enough, as Salem dropped this one in extras. Taylor also drew two walks and drove in three. Miguel Bleis had a nice 2-for-4 night that included two singles and a walk. Fraymi De Leon also reached three times with a single and two walks. Noah Dean started and pitched well, tossing four innings of one-run ball. He surrendered just one hit, struck out five, and walked none. Max Carlson also pitched well out of the bullpen with three shutout frames. The 2023 draft pick struck out four and walked just one.
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The Sox offense was held to just six hits, five of which were singles. Kleyver Salazar had the lone extra-base hit, an RBI triple in the third inning. Brooks Brannon had a nice day at the plate, going 1 for 3 with an RBI single, a run, and a walk. Yoeilin Cespedes and Karim Ayubi each drew a pair of walks. Cespedes has now reached base at least twice in three consecutive games, raising his OBP on the season to .382. The game started out well on the mound for the Red Sox, as Nicholas Judice tossed the first two frames and allowed just one run on one hit, a solo shot. He struck out a pair with no walks. Nicolas De La Cruz followed with two hitless innings and three strikeouts. Willian Colmenares struggled, surrendering six runs without recording an out. Yonfi Rodriguez struck out three, but also allowed two runs on four hits and three walks in three innings of work.
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Player of the Day: Mark Contreras gets the nod with three hits and a home run. The 29-year old catcher was signed by Boston as a minor league free agent in November of 2023. He had spent the first six seasons of his professional career with the Twins after being drafted by Minnesota in 2017. He is having a very nice May at the plate, slashing .258/.364/.485 over 66 at-bats this month.
Photo Credit: Mark Contreras by Kelly O'Connor