August 10, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: 4 homers for Portland in loss; DSL sweeps Brewers
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Worcester Red Sox vs. Syracuse Mets (NYM), PPD (Weather)
The remains of Hurricane Debby pounded upstate New York, causing this one to be pushed to a Saturday doubleheader.
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The Sea Dogs finished the fourth with a 5-1 lead after scoring a trio in the frame, but Altoona came back with a seven-spot in the fifth, which was too much to overcome. David Sandlin had pitched well through four, with three hits and one run surrendered and seven strikeouts. However, he allowed the first three batters to reach before being lifted for Jonathan Brand, all of whom scored. Brendan Cellucci handled the game's final 2 1/3 innings without allowing a run.
Despite the pitching that unraveled in the middle innings, there was plenty of offensive firepower for Portland, which knocked 14 hits, including four home runs. Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Drew Ehrhard and Kyle Teel each went yard. Ehrhard was a triple short of the cycle with a three-hit day, which was matched by Luis Ravelo. Campbell and Teel each also had a multi-hit outing.
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The Dash got out in front with a pair of runs in the first and held on from there. Each squad had six hits, but Greenville worked just three walks and went down on strikes 13 times, while Winston-Salem was issued seven free passes and had six strikeouts. The Drive didn't have any extra-base hits, but Jhostynxon Garcia and Juan Montero each had an RBI. Jedixson Paez was on the mound and he went four innings. He surrendered three runs on four hits, walking one and striking out two. Jeremy Wu-Yelland and Isaac Stebens each had a shutout inning of relief.
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Salem had just four hits, though two of them went for extra bases, as neither team was able to muster much offense. Nelly Taylor had the only RBI on a sacrifice fly. The pitching duties were distributed relatively evenly, as Cole Tolbert handled the first two innings, with one run on his ledger, striking out five in the process. He was followed by Eduardo Rivera, who pitched the next four. He allowed a pair of unearned runs in the fourth but dealt with traffic, as Delmarva worked five hits. Michael Sansone finished the game, facing the minimum nine hitters.
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Blue got back to .500 on the season as they took down the Brewers, withstanding a four-run eighth. The victors got it done in the middle innings, capped off by a four-run frame of their own, doing so in the fifth. The Red Sox pounded out 14 hits, led by Justin Gonzales. He was 4 for 5 with a two-run home run in the third to open the scoring. Tavano Baker, Ilan Fernandez and Justim Sojo each had multiple hits, as well. The start went to Yohandry Gonzalez and he pitched four shutout frames, scattering three hits and two walks against four strikeouts.
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Red completed the Brewers sweep, holding onto its West Division lead in the process, which is now 3.5 games. Yermain Ruiz continued his strong season on the mound, allowing two runs over five innings of work. He surrendered five hits and struck out a trio without walking any batters. Enrique Carta (1 2/3 innings) and Shnaider Rojas (2 1/3 innings) each allowed a run but were successful in keeping the Brewers at bay. Offensively, it was Edwin Brito who carried the day at a perfect 3 for 3 with a home run in the third. Jhoan Peguero had a pair of knocks, as well.
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Player of the Day: Signed as an undrafted free agent in July 2023, Drew Ehrhard was part of a strong offensive day for Portland that came up short. He was 3 for 4 with a double and home run to push his batting average up to .400 this season, albeit in a 35 at-bat sample. The Tampa graduate has defensive versatility but has shown up in August with the bat since coming off the injured list, as he's recorded two separate three-hit games already this month.
Photo Credit: Drew Ehrhard by Kelly O'Connor