June 8, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Kavadas goes yard twice; Liu goes six strong
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The WooSox plated five runs in the first and rode that to a 7-4 win on Friday night, despite being out-hit, 7-6. Niko Kavadas had two home runs on the night, driving in four runs, as both were two-run blasts. He wasn't the only one, as Nathan Hickey also had a three-run shot. Chase Meidroth and Nick Sogard also each reached base three times. Josh Winckowski threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) with four hits and a walk against five strikeouts. Sal Romano and Lucas Luetge each pitched scoreless frames in relief.
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The first four runs of the game were scored by Portland, while Akron wasn't able to put together enough of a rally to complete the comeback, as Sea Dogs pitching only allowed three hits. No Portland hitter had more than one hit, but seven of them were able to start or extend a hitting streak, including two-baggers from Eddinson Paulino and Roman Anthony. The start belonged to Chih-Jung Liu and he threw a quality start, with two runs over six innings of work. All three Akron hits were on his line, but he struck out nine RubberDucks. Theo Denlinger also punched out four of the six hitters he faced.
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Greenville got the tying run to the plate in the ninth but weren't able to get another run across. The Drive went down on strikes 16 times and mustered just six hits, with only Allan Castro getting on base more than once, as he also worked a walk. All four Hickory runs came on Hayden Mullins' watch, but just one was earned on the back of a pair of Drive errors. He pitched five innings and allowed seven hits, with one walk and five punchouts. Bryce Bonnin, Reidis Sena and Jeremy Wu-Yelland each contributed a no-hit inning with a strikeout, while Bonnin pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.
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Salem got its scoring done early, as it plated all six of its runs in a first inning in which 11 Red Sox came to the plate. They registered three hits, including a three-run Brooks Brannon home run, as well as a trio of walks. Stanley Tucker had two of his team's five hits. Each of the Salem pitchers allowed one run but were more than solid. Luis Cohen had the first five frames, scattering his run with four hits, zero walks and five strikeouts. The final four went to Michael Sansone. He had a nearly identical stat line, with four hits and five punchouts, but he walked a batter.
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It was a crosstown battle for the FCL Red Sox and despite just four hits, they took home a big win. Yoeilin Cespedes had half of those knocks, with a double and a two-run home run. Franklin Arias also added a two-run double. Four pitchers combined to handle the seven innings, with none of them throwing more than the 2 2/3 innings contributed by starter Adam Bates. He walked four and allowed two more hits, but no Twins were able to cross the plate. Luis Jerez handled the fifth without allowing any runs, while Cristofer Soriano had only an unearned run on his ledger as he pitched the final two frames.
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DSL Athletics vs. DSL Red Sox Red, PPD (Weather)
Some wet weather rolled through the Dominican Republic, washing this one out.
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DSL Red Sox Blue vs. DSL Royals Fortuna
Neither DSL squad was able to get their game in on Friday.
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Player of the Day: Home runs were Niko Kavadas' specialty at Notre Dame, which helped him get selected in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He knocked two big flies for Worcester on Friday night, showing off his light-tower power that's been his calling card, as he's now up to 12 on the season. He doesn't profile as a great defender and has little speed, which means his value is tied up in his bat. The Indiana native has shown he can hit so far.
Photo Credit: Niko Kavadas by Kelly O'Connor