August 14, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Anthony shines in Triple-A debut; Casas goes deep
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Number one prospect Roman Anthony made a fantastic first impression in Worcester, going 3 for 4. After roping a double in his first Triple-A plate appearance, he collected a couple more singles. Kyle Teel made his Triple-A debut as well, going 0 for 4. Marcelo Mayer, promoted with Anthony and Teel, remains day-to-day and should make his WooSox debut this week. Triston Casas went 2 for 4 with a long home run and a double. He has a .959 OPS during his rehab assignment. Vaughn Grissom went 1 for 3 with his second home run, a walk, and a stolen base. Kyle Teel was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.
On the mound, Shane Drohan made his first start back with the Red Sox after his stint with the White Sox. He went 3 2/3 innings and allowed four hits and four walks, but was able to limit the damage to one run. He struck out three. Our own Ian Cundall was in attendance. Wyatt Olds tossed 2 1/3 shutout frames with three strikeouts. Zach Penrod pitched a clean inning with one strikeout, and Cundall has some notes and video on his outing as well.
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Down to their final out in the seventh inning, Drew Ehrhard came up huge with a game-tying solo home run. He also came up with a big hit in extra innings, a two-run triple in the ninth inning to give Portland a three-run lead. Nathan Hickey drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth with an RBI double. After dominating in Greenville, Jhostynxon Garcia made his Double-A debut, playing center field and hitting third. The 21-year old went 1 for 4 with a single and a stolen base. Connelly Early pitched well, going five innings and allowing just two runs. He struck out five, walked two, and surrendered just three hits. Brendan Cellucci tremendous out of the bullpen, allowing no runs over the final four innings, including a pair of extra innings in which he stranded the runner on second. He struck out four and walked just one.
Kristian Campbell got the offense going right away with a leadoff triple. He would come around to score on a sacrifice fly from Jhostynxon Garcia. Campbell also drew a pair of free passes. Corey Rosier was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs driven in. Juan Daniel Encarnacion pitched two shutout innings to begin this one on the mound. Theo Denlinger got credit for the win, as he followed with three shutout innings of his own. He allowed just one hit, struck out three, and did not walk anybody. Christopher Troye came up big, as he entered the game with the tying runs in scoring position with one out in the seventh. He proceeded to strikeout the next to hitters to end the game.
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It was a rough outing for Elmer Rodriguez, who couldn't find his control with four walks in just 1 2/3 innings. He surrendered two runs and did not strike anybody out. Nathan Landry was much better in relief, as he did not give up a run in 2 1/3 innings. Bryce Bonnin and Jeremy Wu-Yelland each gave up two runs in two innings. Zach Ehrhard had a nice night, going 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. Miguel Bleis was 1 for 4 with an RBI, Bryan Gonzalez picked up two hits, and Fraymi De Leon doubled and came around to score.
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The Sox had 10 hits in this one, but went just 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Marvin Alcantara led the way by going 3 for 4 with three singles. Natanael Yuten, who came in the game for Stanley Tucker, went 2 for 3 with his 17th double. Antonio Anderson went 2 for 4, and Kelvin Diaz doubled and walked. Danny Kirwin started and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Nathanael Cruz tossed a pair of innings and allowed one run to go along with two strikeouts and no walks. Max Carlson added a scoreless inning as well.
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The Sox dropped a full game in the standings with this loss, but they still have a four-game lead over the DSL Reds in their division. Efren Teran had a big game, going 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Anderson Fermin singled and scored a run, while Edwin Brito and Jhoan Peguero each added two-baggers. Dalvinson Reyes pitched for the first time in 19 days, tossing the first inning of this one with no hits or runs allowed to go along with two strikeouts. Dariel Morillo followed by allowing one unearned run in one inning with one strikeout. Merlin Bido struggled and took the loss, surrendering five runs on eight hits and three walks in 4 2/3 frames. Raphy Gil tossed 1 1/3 innings of hitless ball as well. Team Red's magic number to clinch the South Division remains at two.
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A day after the Red team scored 18, the Blue squad put up 18 runs of their own in this makeup game from July 22nd. Ilan Fernandez and Moises Bolivar each singled, tripled, and scored two runs. Moises Semerite, who came into this game early on for Vladimir Asencio, had a huge day with a single, a walk, and his first home run of the season. Tavano Baker reached four times with two singles and two walks, scoring three runs. Emanuel Reyna went 3 for 6 with three RBI, while Yoiber Ruiz and Josue Brito each roped doubles. Yoelvin Chirino started and went the first four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts and two walks. William Reynoso picked up the win with two innings of one-run ball.
Liosward Marin led another huge offensive attack for the Blue team, going 2 for 5 with two doubles and five RBI. Emanuel Reyna followed his three-hit game with a two-hit game, including a double and an RBI. Tavano Baker and Josue Brito put up identical lines, as both went 1 for 2 with a single, two walks, and three runs scored. Abis Prado pitched very well, firing 3 2/3 scoreless innings to begin this one. He punched out four and walked two. Luis Cabrera grabbed his third win of the year despite allowing four runs (three earned) over 3 1/3 innings. He punched out four.
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Player of the Day: Despite a quiet game two, Drew Ehrhard takes it home after two clutch extra-base hits. The 25-year old went undrafted but was signed by Boston as a free agent in 2023. In 16 games between Greenville and Portland this year, Ehrhard is hitting .409/.509/.864 with six doubles, a triple, and four home runs.
Photo Credit: Drew Ehrhard by Kelly O'Connor