May 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Greenville falls despite efforts of Tolle, Brannon
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Worcester's three top prospects combined to go 6 for 11 with all five of the team's runs in what was scheduled to be the opener of a doubleheader. Roman Anthony set the table out of the leadoff spot, going 2 for 3 with a walk, scoring twice. Marcelo Mayer and Jhostynxon Garcia both homered as part of matching 2-for-4 efforts. Garcia blasted a solo shot in the first, while Mayer's two-run homer came in the third. In his return to the Worcester lineup, Vaughn Grissom plated Mayer with a bases-loaded walk-off base hit. Grissom had missed Worcester's three previous games with a lower back strain. Starter Robert Stock allowed four runs (three earned) in four innings, walking and striking out four. Zack Kelly struck out four batters in two hitless innings, and Nick Burdi pitched a perfect seventh to get credit for the win.
Worcester Red Sox vs. Durham Bulls (Game 2), postponed
The second game of the doubleheader was called due to "persistent rain," an acutely appropriate phrase for the playing conditions this spring. They'll try again for a twinbill on Saturday.
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Isaac Coffey was perfect in his return to the mound, leading a trio of hurlers to a shutout. Coffey, sidelined since spring training with an illness, retired all nine batters he faced, striking out four. He gave way to David Sandlin, who made the first relief appearance of his professional career. Sandlin went five scoreless frames, scattering five hits, and striking out six without issuing a walk. Jonathan Brand went the ninth inning, striking out a pair and allowing one hit. Blaze Jordan led the way at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a three-run homer in the fifth that blew the game open. Max Ferguson also went deep in the fifth with a solo shot. Mikey Romero was 3 for 4 with a pair of runs scored out of the leadoff slot.
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The Drive fell in Bowling Green despite huge efforts from Brooks Brannon and Payton Tolle. Brannon, who entered the contest with just four hits in his previous 41 at-bats, had a four-hit, nine-total-base night. Along with a fourth-inning solo homer, he doubled twice, singled, drove in three, and scored a run. Tolle struck out nine across 4 2/3 innings, surrendering four hits without issuing a walk. The only blemish came on a second-inning solo homer. Tolle now has 49 strikeouts against just seven walks in 28 1/3 innings on the year. Cooper Adams was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in 2 2/3. Adams also has posted strong strikeout numbers: with five on the night, he now has 34 in 24 1/3 innings.
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In an even, back-and-forth matchup, Delmarva exploded for six runs in the 12th inning to run away on Friday. Andruw Musett had Salem's only multi-hit effort, going 2 for 5 with a walk and a run scored. Yeoilin Cespedes led off the game with a home run, adding a walk and a stolen base. Justin Gonzales had a single and a walk, while Freili Encarnacion was 1 for 3 with two walks and a pair of steals. Starter Steven Brooks allowed three runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings. Joe Vogatsky went a scoreless 1 1/3, followed by Shea Sprague, who gave up just one run in four frames. The loss went to Manuel Medina, who allowed four runs (two being the automatic runner and therefore unearned) in 3 1/3, striking out six without walking a batter.
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The FCL Sox were held to five hits in the seven-inning contest as they fell to 4-10 on the year. D'Angelo Ortiz led the way, going 2 for 3 with a triple, a stolen base, and a run scored. Johanfran Garcia continued his rehab, going 1 for 3 as the designated hitter. Yhoiker Fajardo allowed a run for the first time in three 2025 appearances, surrendering one on two hits in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Abis Prado took the loss, giving up a pair of runs (one earned) despite not allowing a hit in 2/3 of an inning. Madinson Frias went the final three frames, giving up a run on three hits.
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Player of the Day: It's been an up-and-down season for Brooks Brannon, who has seen his hits come in bunches. Friday was one of the plentiful days for the 21-year-old backstop, as he had a homer, two doubles, and a single, accounting for three of Greenville's four runs. The effort broke a 4-for-41 skid and saw his first home run since April 20 and first extra-base hit since a double on May 9. Brannon, a ninth-round pick in the 2022 draft, is currently the 47th-ranked prospect in the system.
Photo Credit: Brooks Brannon by Kelly O'Connor