May 30, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Sandlin spins gem for Portland; Arias stays hot with 4 hits in Greenville
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Brian Van Belle put together another strong start for Worcester. The 28-year-old right-hander scattered seven hits and walked only one while striking out five over seven scoreless innings. He threw 86 pitches (65 strikes) and generated 13 swings and misses. Fellow righty Bryan Mata took over for Van Belle in the eighth inning and then surrendered two runs on four hits in the ninth, but held on to notch the first save of his professional career.
Jhostynxon Garcia homered for the third time in eight games since being promoted, as he went 2 for 4 with a seventh-inning solo shot. Blake Sabol also crushed a solo homer, his third big fly of the season, as part of a 1-for-3 showing in which he drew a walk. Ryan Noda went 2 for 4 with one double and one run scored, marking his second multi-hit effort in five games since being acquired from the Angels on May 22. Trayce Thompson doubled and drew a walk, while Tyler McDonough drove in one run, drew one walk, and stole his third base of the year.
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David Sandlin was superb in his eighth start of the season for Portland. The 24-year-old righty went the distance in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader, scattering three hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings to secure the win. He threw 84 pitches (57 strikes) and generated eight swings and misses. Offensively, Caden Rose carried the Sea Dogs lineup by going 2 for 3 with a pair of home runs out of the nine-hole. He drilled a solo shot in the third and a two-run blast in the sixth to mark the first multi-homer game of his professional career. Marvin Alcantara, who was on base for that second home run, went 1 for 3 with a double.
Isaac Coffey got the start for Portland in Game 2 and tossed three scoreless, no-hit innings like he did in his season debut last week. The 24-year-old righty issued three walks and fanned five of the 12 batters he faced on 50 pitches (30 strikes). Dalton Rogers took over for Coffey in the fourth and struggled in his lone inning of relief, surrendering six earned runs on four hits (including a two-run homer), four walks, and no strikeouts. Reidis Sena and Yovanny Cruz then combined for three scoreless frames out of the bullpen to secure the doubleheader sweep.
Blaze Jordan led the way offensively, going 3 for 4 with one double, four RBIs, and two runs scored. Tyler Miller went 2 for 3 with an RBI triple that opened the scoring in the top of the first, one run scored, and one walk. Drew Ehrhard went 2 for 4 with a two-run single and a solo home run for his second big fly of the season. Max Ferguson had just one hit, but it was good for his third homer of the year. He drew a walk and scored two runs as well. Juan Chacon also scored twice, as he went 2 for 3 with a pair of singles out of the nine-hole.
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Four members of Greenville's lineup enjoyed multi-hit performances on Thursday night. Franklin Arias stayed red-hot by going 4 for 5 with one double, one RBI, and one run scored. Nelly Taylor went 2 for 5 with one double, his fourth home run of the season, three RBIs, and one run scored. Miguel Bleis and Brooks Brannon each had two hits as well. The former scored one run, while the latter doubled, tripled, drove in one run, and scored twice. Andy Lugo cranked a three-run home run in the second inning for his fourth of the year. Yophery Rodriguez doubled and drove in one run, while Justin Riemer and Hudson White both went 1 for 3 with two runs scored.
Payton Tolle went 4 1/3 innings in his eighth start for Greenville. The 22-year-old lefty allowed one earned run on five hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. He threw 79 pitches (49 strikes) and generated 14 swings and misses. Darvin Garcia took over for Tolle in the fifth and surrendered three earned runs on three hits (including a two-run homer) before making way for fellow righty Matt McShane, who spun two scoreless frames to seal the win.
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Steven Brooks took the loss in his start for Salem after allowing six earned runs on four hits, four walks, one hit by pitch, and four strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings. Nicolas De La Cruz and Manuel Medina did not fare much better, as they combined to surrender four additional runs out of the bullpen. Eybersson Polanco did, however, strike out the side in a scoreless eighth inning.
At the plate, Natanael Yuten, Frederik Jimenez, and Fraymi De Leon accounted for six of their side's nine hits. Yuten went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and one stolen base. Jimenez went 2 for 3 with one run scored, one stolen base, and one walk. De Leon went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, one run scored, and one stolen base. Yoeilin Cespedes recorded an RBI double for his lone hit of the contest, while Justin Gonzales drove in one run, drew two walks, and stole one base out of the leadoff spot.
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Dalvinson Reyes bounced back from a rough outing in his last time out and went 2 1/3 innings in his start on Thursday. The 18-year-old righty allowed one earned run on no hits, one walk, one hit by pitch, and three strikeouts. Denison Sanchez received the bulk of the work out of the bullpen, yielding four earned runs over 2 2/3 innings. Jeison Payano then tossed three scoreless frames of relief to earn his first winning decision of the season.
Efren Teran paced the FCL Red Sox lineup by going 3 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored. Johanfran Garcia and Yohander Linarez each had two hits. Garcia went 2 for 3 with one double, one RBI, and one run scored, while Linarez went 2 for 3 with one double and two runs scored. Gerardo Rodriguez pinch-hit for the rehabbing Garcia in the sixth inning and came through with a go-ahead three-run double in his lone plate appearance. Anderson Fermin scored one run and drew two walks. Will Turner, in his first game of the year, went 1 for 3 with one RBI, one run scored, and one walk.
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Player of the Day: David Sandlin gets the nod for tossing the first (abbreviated) complete game shutout of his professional career. Following Thursday's impressive outing, the Oklahoma product now sports a 3.77 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 45 strikeouts to 12 walks through nine appearances (eight starts) spanning 43 innings for Portland this season. Opposing hitters have batted .239 against him. He is currently ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the organization.
Photo Credit: David Sandlin by Kelly O'Connor