June 5, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Mayer reaches five times, Campbell makes Portland debut
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It was a rough defensive night for the WooSox, making four errors which led to seven unearned runs. Brian Van Belle started and was solid, allowing two unearned runs over three innings with two strikeouts and just one walk. Chase Shugart allowed four runs in two frames, although all of them were unearned. Matthew Lugo made his Triple-A debut and played well, going 1 for 3 with a double, a hit-by-pitch, and a stolen base. Eddy Alvarez went 1 for 4 with a double and two RBI, while Chase Meidroth boosted his OBP to .435 with a single and two walks.
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Philip Sikes led the charge on offense by going 3 for 5 from the bottom spot in the lineup. The right fielder belted his third home run of the season, drove in three runs, and scored three runs. Marcelo Mayer had a huge game as well, reaching base five times. He added to his league-leading doubles total with his 20th, singled twice, walked twice, and stole a base. Alex Binelas went 3 for 4 with a double and Tyler McDonough singled twice, walked, and swiped three bags. It was also a productive Double-A debut for Kristian Campbell, who went 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. Isaac Coffey battled through five innings to earn the win. He surrendered three runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Brendan Cellucci notched a two-inning save with no runs allowed and three strikeouts.
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Juan Daniel Encarnacion labored through four innings, throwing 80 pitches. He allowed three runs on six hits, but struck out seven with just two free passes. Nathan Landry was very good in relief, tossing two shutout innings with three strikeouts and no walks. At the plate, Jhostynxon Garcia went 1 for 3 with a solo shot and a walk. Mikey Romero added a two-run double, and Allan Castro drew two walks and stole two bases.
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Brooks Brannon sent the Salem crowd home happy with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. Albert Feliz also delivered in the clutch twice, as he tied the game with a solo homer in the seventh, and then roped a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth. Marvin Alcantara had a great night as well, going 2 for 4 with a triple and an RBI. Ovis Portes made his Salem debut, going the first 2 1/3 frames and throwing 45 pitches. The 19-year old did not allow a run on just one hit with two strikeouts. Francis Hernandez was missing bats, striking out six over 3 2/3 innings while allowing two runs and just one walk.
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The Sox had the long ball working in this one, crushing four home runs. Yoeilin Cespedes had one of those four homers as part of his 2-for-5 showing. He also singled and raised his OPS to .922. Karim Ayubi had a perfect day at the plate, reaching base in all four trips with a two-run home run and three walks. Armando Sierra and Franklin Arias both homered as well for the first time this year. Frederik Jimenez add a pair of singles, and Andruw Musett doubled and walked. Zach Bryant started and surrendered three runs over two innings, but struck out three and walked just one. Nicholas Judice grabbed the win, allowing one run over two innings with two strikeouts. Yeferson Vargas was dominant in a three-inning save, allowing just one hit and no runs while punching out six.
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The Sox used a four-run sixth to pull away, with the big hits being Anderson Fermin's RBI single and Jhoan Peguero's RBI double. Fermin also doubled and drew a walk. Justin Barry had a great day despite not recording a hit, as he drew four walks and scored a pair of runs. Avinson Pinto also swiped two bases. Charlie Zink and his knuckleball made a miraculous return to professional baseball, starting on the bump. I'm just kidding, but 18-year old Charlie Zink from Curacao did make his organizational debut with a scoreless frame to start this game off. Any time that name is mentioned, I am reminded of one of the best regular season Red Sox games in recent memory. Anyway, Merlin Bido was credited with the win after four terrific innings, allowing no hits and no runs with two strikeouts. Yander Bonaci was great over two hitless innings of his own, punching out three.
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It was a very quiet day at the plate for the Blue squad, recording just two hits. Givian Sirvania roped his first double of the year, and Jhiancarlos Diaz picked up the other Sox hit, a single. Dalvinson Reyes made his professional debut with three perfect innings to start this game off. The righty struck out three. Gibel Galvan and Brahian Rijo tossed scoreless frames of their own, with Rijo fanning a pair.
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Player of the Day: Marcelo Mayer had a career night, reaching base five times in one game for the first time in his minor league career. The shortstop has been incredibly consistent this year, hitting .308 with an .819 OPS in April and .287 with an .845 OPS in May. So far in June, he has played three games and drawn two walks in each of those games, leading to a ridiculous .647 OBP so far in the month.
Photo Credit: Marcelo Mayer by Kelly O'Connor