August 5, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Rosario homers twice for Greenville; Castro, Romero also go deep
-----
This game was called in the eighth inning due to rain. Trade acquisition Quinn Priester struggled in his organizational debut, surrendering eight earned runs on six hits, four walks, and four strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings. Yohan Ramirez gave up a two-run home run to Joey Votto while Bailey Horn, Wyatt Olds, and Luis Guerrero combined for four scoreless frames of relief. At the plate, Tyler Heineman accounted for half of Worcester's hits by going 2 for 3. Triston Casas (who doubled) and Vaughn Grissom (who singled and drew a walk) were responsible for the other two. Eddy Alvarez scored his side's only run when he successfully stole home on a double steal with Tyler McDonough in the bottom of the second.
-----
Portland's nine-game winning streak was snapped by Erie on Sunday. Caleb Bolden got the start on the mound and went the first four innings, allowing only one earned run on four hits, one walk, and one strikeout. Jacob Webb, Christopher Troye, and Zach Bryant combined for six punchouts out of the bullpen, but they yielded four runs (three earned) over five innings. Offensively, Kyle Teel and Nick Decker each went 2 for 4. The former doubled for the 19th time this season while the latter scored one run. Kristian Campbell also doubled and scored a run as part of a 1 for 4 showing. Blaze Jordan and Luis Ravelo each recorded RBI singles.
-----
Ronald Rosario had a career day at the plate, going 3 for 5 with two home runs, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Five other members of Greenville's lineup enjoyed multi-hit performances. Mikey Romero went 2 for 6 with one home run and two RBIs out of the leadoff spot. Justin Riemer went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, one walk, and one stolen base. Jhostynxon Garcia went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple, four runs scored, and one walk. Andy Lugo went 2 for 5 with a two-run single while Juan Montero went 2 for 4 with a two-run double. Allan Castro also drew two walks and homered for the 14th time this season.
Hayden Mullins lasted three innings in his start for the Drive, allowing a season-high six earned runs on six hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Five of those six runs crossed the plate in the top of the third. In relief of Mullins, Adam Smith scattered two hits and struck out four over three innings of one-run ball to ultimately notch the winning decision. Gabriel Jackson gave up two additional runs while Isaac Stebens took over in the eighth and closed things out in the ninth.
-----
In Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader, Salem recorded 12 hits as a team. Nelly Taylor led the way by going 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Freili Encarnacion and Antonio Anderson each went 2 for 4, with the former driving in two runs and the latter doubling while scoring another. Nazzan Zanetello went 1 for 3 with one run scored, and one walk. On the mound, Luis Cohen went three innings in his rain-shortened start on Saturday night. He gave up just one run on one hit (a solo homer) while striking out three of the 10 batters he faced. Conor Steinbaugh took over and picked up the win by firing three scoreless, no-hit frames of relief.
A four-run sixth inning in Game 2 propelled Salem to a doubleheader sweep. Freili Encarnacion got his side on the board with a sacrifice fly. Daniel McElveny followed with a three-run double for his only hit of the day. Nelly Taylor, who scored one of those runs, went 1 for 4 with two stolen bases to bring his season total up to 26. Trennor O'Donnell got the start and went 3 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. Francis Hernandez and Luis Talavera combined for 2 1/3 scoreless frames while Royman Blanco held on in the seventh to notch his fifth save of the year.
-----
Player of the Day: After coming through with a walk-off double for Greenville on Saturday, Ronald Rosario put together the first multi-homer game of his professional career in Sunday's series finale against Wilmington. The 21-year-old catcher is now riding a six-game hitting streak in which he has gone 11-for-28 (.393) with one double, three home runs, 11 RBIs, and 11 runs scored.
Photo Credit: Ronald Rosario by Kelly O'Connor