April 5, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Aita unhittable in debut highlights full slate sweep
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Shane Drohan rolled in his first start of the season to bring the WooSox back to .500. Drohan gave up just one hit in four scoreless innings, striking out six without issuing a walk. The 26-year-old lefty induced 13 whiffs and threw 38 of 56 pictures for strikes. Bryan Mata picked up the win in relief, surrendering one run in 2 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and two walks. Wyatt Mills struck out a pair in 1 1/3 innings of scoreless work, and Luis Guerrero finished with a hitless ninth.
Vaughn Grissom led the way at the plate, scoring three runs as part of a 2-for-5 effort. Blake Sabol and Abraham Toro both doubled and drove in two. Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer had a single and walk apiece, with Mayer scoring a pair of runs and Anthony one.
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The Sea Dogs lineup took advantage of the wobbly control of the Reading pitching staff. Portland drew 13 walks and had another three hit batsman in addition to 10 base hits. Corey Rosier delivered the decisive blow, a sixth-inning grand slam that put Portland up 7-5. Mikey Romero did not miss a beat after a promising spring training. The shortstop had a home run and double as he went 2 for 4 with two walks, three RBI, and three runs scored. Double-play partner Max Ferguson was 3 for 4 with a pair of free passes, scoring a pair and driving in two more. Jhostynxon Garcia had a single and three walks on the day.
Tyler Uberstine drew the Opening Day assignment on the mound, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits in four innings. Wyatt Olds gave up two runs in three innings but benefitted from Portland's seven-run sixth inning to get credit for the win. Yovanny Cruz closed out the win with a pair of hitless frames, striking out two and walking one.
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The Drive kicked off their 20th season as a Red Sox affiliate in style at Fluor Field. Hayden Mullins drew the start, scattering four hits across four shutout innings, striking out six, and walking one. Max Carlson cruised through his first two innings of relief but ran into some trouble in the seventh, surrendering three runs. He struck out five over his 2 2/3 innings. Isaac Stebens put out the fire, stranding an inherited runner and posting 2 1/3 scoreless to get the victory.
At the plate, Nazzan Zanetello had a big day in the leadoff slot as he looks to rebound from an up-and-down rookie campaign. The shortstop had a single, three walks, three runs scored and a stolen base, Nelly Taylor opened the scoring with a massive three-run homer over the right-field wall. He finished 2 for 4 with a walk. Brooks Brannon scored twice as part of his 3-for-5 effort, while Marvin Alcantara was 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBI.
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Nearly everything went well for Salem on Opening Day as the lineup ripped seven extra-base hits and the arms took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Blake Aita was electrifying in his professional debut. The 2024 sixth-rounder faced the minimum over five hitless frames, walking one batter and then immediately erasing him on a double play. He struck out four and needed just 58 pitches to get through the five innings. Joe Vogatsky went the next three, giving up two hits, walking one, and striking out six. The Shorebirds reached Nathanael Cruz for a single run in the ninth to foil the shutout bid.
Freili Encarnacion led the way at the plate with a five-RBI night that was capped with a solo home run in the eighth. Encarnacion also doubled twice to finish 3 for 5, scoring a pair of runs. Franklin Arias was 3 for 5 with two doubles and three runs scored out of the leadoff slot. Antonio Anderson reached base four times, going 2 for 3 with two walks, driving in two, and scoring two. The floodgates opened for Salem with a seven-run seventh inning, highlighted by a Kelvin Diaz grand slam.
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Player of the Day: Blake Aita opened eyes during spring training and showed off why in the Salem opener. The 21-year-old was selected out of Kennesaw State and signed for a slightly under slot bonus as a draft-eligible sophomore but did not make his debut in 2024. He struck out four in five hitless innings to earn the first winning decision of what looks to be an impressive crop of arms selected last July. Aita jumped onto the SoxProspects.com rankings on Thursday at 39.
Photo Credit: Blake Aita by Kelly O'Connor