June 2, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Go-ahead grand slam for Teel, Campbell's on-base streak ends
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A bomb from Bobby Dalbec was not enough to push Worcester past Charlotte. Dalbec's home run was his eighth in 26 games in Triple-A, and he added a single. Eddy Alvarez also had two hits as he went 2 for 3 with a walk. In a rare feat, a catcher stole home as Mark Kolozsvary pulled off a double steal with Mark Contreras. Kolozsvary also added a two-run single. Starter Josh Winckowski struggled through four innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits. He struck out two as his ERA climbed to 4.61. Isaiah Campbell struck out three in his 1 1/3 inning rehab appearance, and Zack Kelly followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
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For the second straight game, Kyle Teel hit a big home run in the ninth inning, leading Portland to victory. This time it was a grand slam that erased a two-run deficit. Altoona would tie the game in the bottom of the inning, but Portland put it away in extras. Teel was on base five times as he went 3 for 4 with the grand slam and a double, and he was also hit by two pitches. Marcelo Mayer filled the box score by going 1 for 4 with two walks, a steal, two RBI, and two runs scored. Leadoff man Tyler McDonough went 3 for 5 with a double and a walk, and Matthew Lugo went 2 for 5 with a triple.
On the mound, Chih-Jung Liu allowed two runs over three innings. Caleb Bolden fired three shutout innings with five strikeouts, but the Curve got to Wyatt Olds and Jonathan Brand for three runs in the ninth after the Sea Dogs had taken the lead. Brand would return for the 10th, allowing only the zombie runner to score.
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Hayden Mullins took a tough-luck loss, as the left-hander was stellar for the Drive. He struck out eight and allowed one run over four innings while walking two. Gabriel Jackson was also strong in relief, surrendering just an unearned run over 2 2/3. The bats were quiet, with Kristian Campbell's on-base streak ending at 34 games after he went 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Recently promoted Jhostynxon Garcia went 2 for 3, and Cutter Coffey went 1 for 2 with two walks.
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Salem had four doubles and stole six bases, but Lynchburg got a walk-off victory. One of the hotter hitters in the system, Nelly Taylor went 2 for 5 with a double and three steals. Nazzan Zanetello went 1 for 3 with a double, Freili Encarnacion went 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. and Stanley Tucker went 1 for 3 with a double, walk, and two RBIs. Salem only used two pitchers to get through the 10 innings. Luis Cohen allowed four runs over the first four innings, and Michael Sansone allowed three runs over the remainder of the game. Salem pulled ahead in the top of the 10th on an RBI single from Marvin Alcantara, but Lynchburg answered with a two-run double to win it.
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The Twins accumulated 13 hits and 10 walks in only seven innings on Saturday. Gilberto Batista was rocked for six runs in the first inning in his second appearance this season. He allowed two hits and walked five. The bullpen also struggled as the three relievers who followed all allowed at least one run. Yoeilin Cespedes went 1 for 5 with his first triple, Kelvin Diaz went 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Gerardo Rodriguez went 1 for 2 with two walks and an RBI.
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Player of the Day: Kyle Teel reached base five times and hit a go-ahead grand slam in the ninth inning for the Sea Dogs. On Friday, Teel tied the game with a home run in the ninth when Portland was down to its final strike. On Saturday, he put them ahead by two runs with his sixth homer of the year. The 22-year-old is picking up where he left off in May, as he finished the month hitting .357/.443/.560. Fans in Portland should enjoy watching Teel while they still can.
Photo Credit: Kyle Teel by Kelly O'Connor