June 13, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Dobbins goes 7 strong; Jordan returns to Portland lineup
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Justin Hagenman was solid in his start for Worcester, as he allowed just two hits and one walk with four strikeouts over three scoreless innings. Brian Van Belle and Naoyuki Uwasawa combined to give up five runs out of the bullpen before AJ Politi retired all five batters he faced. At the plate, Eddy Alvarez accounted for his side's lone extra-base hit by going 1 for 4 with a double and run scored. Mickey Gasper scored a run on a Tyler Heineman sacrifice fly as part of a 1 for 3 night. Nick Yorke also went 1 for 3 with one walk to extend his hitting streak to four games.
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Hunter Dobbins improved to 4-1 on the season after yielding just two runs (one earned) on five hits, one walk, and six strikeouts over seven strong innings. He finished with 90 pitches (65 strikes) and induced 11 swings-and-misses. Felix Cepeda surrendered two runs in the eighth and allowed the first two batters he faced in the ninth to reach base, but Brendan Cellucci came on and retired the only three batters he faced to notch the save.
Elih Marrero led the way offensively by going 2 for 4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs. Kristian Campbell and Phillip Sikes both went 2 for 4 as well, combining for three doubles and three runs scored. After being held out of action for the last month with a fractured left ring finger, Blaze Jordan went 2 for 5 with a two-run double in his return to the Portland lineup. Roman Anthony, on the other hand, was removed from the game after taking a pitch to the right elbow in the first inning. Per Alex Speier, the exit was due simply to soreness, and that they don't have any reason to believe a more serious injury occurred.
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Connelly Early took the loss for Greenville after surrendering three runs (two earned) on four hits, three walks, one hit batsman, and five strikeouts over four laborious innings. Zach Fogell and Reidis Sena combined for nine punchouts across five scoreless frames of relief. Offensively, Cutter Coffey stayed hot by going 2 for 4 with his third home run in as many games. Mikey Romero doubled for his lone hit of the night while Ronald Rosario went 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI single that plated Allan Castro.
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Elmer Rodriguez got the start and allowed only one unearned run on four hits, one walk, and four strikeouts over four-plus innings. He finished with 63 pitches (43 strikes) and induced a game-high 14 swings-and-misses. Royman Blanco contributed with four innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen before Francis Hernandez surrendered three runs (two earned) in the bottom of the 11th. On the flip side, Andy Lugo doubled in one run while Nelly Taylor and Marvin Alcantara both recorded RBI singles. Nazzan Zanetello and Antonio Anderson each drew one walk and scored one run.
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Player of the Day: As the lone Red Sox minor-leaguer to pick up a win on Wednesday, this one goes out to Hunter Dobbins. The 24-year-old righty has gone six or more innings in each of his last three starts for Portland dating back to May 31 and has lowered his ERA on the season by more than a full run (4.96 to 3.93) in the process of doing so. He is currently regarded as Boston's No. 24 prospect, which ranks eighth among pitchers in the organization.
Photo Credit: Hunter Dobbins by Kelly O'Connor