June 1, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Teel knocks 3-run homer; Dobbins goes 7 shutout frames
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Worcester trailed 3-1 after six innings but added a pair in the seventh to tie the game, plated six in the eighth to take the lead, and left no doubt with a four-run ninth. They worked 14 free passes, combined with 10 hits. Seven of the nine starters reached base multiple times, with three hits for Chase Meidroth and four walks for Tyler Heineman. The first four innings belonged to Jason Alexander, as he surrendered three runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out three. Brian Van Belle also contributed three scoreless frames.
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Kyle Teel knocked a three-run home run to tie the game in the top of the ninth and force extra innings, then Tyler Miller knocked in the game-winning run with a single. Even prior to that, Portland went into the bottom of the eighth up 3-0 before Altoona put up a six-spot to secure a three-run lead going into the final inning. Teel was 2 for 4, while he was joined in the multi-hit club by Nick Yorke and Matthew Lugo, who also went yard. The start went to Hunter Dobbins and he delivered an exceptional outing, throwing seven frames of shutout ball. He scattered three hits and a walk, striking out eight.
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The teams traded runs in the first and eighth innings, with one each in the middle frames before Rome plated a pair in the 10th to secure the win. Kristian Campbell extended his on-base streak with a pair of hits and was joined in the multi-hit club by Ronald Rosario. Jhostynxon Garcia added a home run. The start belonged to Connelly Early, who handled the first 4 1/3 innings. A pair of runs crossed the plate on his watch as he allowed five hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Reidis Sena also pitched 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief.
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Lynchburg jumped all over Salem for two in the first and four more in the second to coast to victory, scoring 11 unanswered runs in the process. The lone Red Sox run came on a bases-loaded single by Diego Viloria in the top of the ninth. Andy Lugo had two of his team's five hits, each of which were singles. It was a tough night on the mound for Elmer Rodriguez, with six runs, four of which were earned, on his ledger over three innings of work as Salem committed a pair of errors. The middle innings belonged to Royman Blanco and four more runs came across on his watch, while Francis Hernandez allowed just one over the final two frames.
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Red Sox pitching allowed just one run on six hits, but the offense had an even more paltry performance as it was shut out with just four singles to show for it. The game's lone run, on a solo home run, was charged to Adam Bates, who was otherwise strong in his four innings of work. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out another pair. Diego Hernandez and Jesus Garcia had one and two shutout frames, respectively, to close out the proceedings.
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Player of the Day: A 2-for-4 day is pretty solid. When it includes a game-tying, three-run home run in the ninth? That's a great night's work. Kyle Teel came up huge for Portland, just a half-inning after Altoona scored six to take a three-run lead going into the final frame. The backstop knocked his fifth home run of the season, showing off his above-average raw power.
Photo Credit: Kyle Teel by Kelly O'Connor