June 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Romero's slam powers Portland, Salem staff puts together a gem
6/22 Cup of Coffee: A stellar pitching performance by the Salem staff helped support an offense that scored just three runs and a big evening for Mikey Romero (pictured) highlighted the night across the Boston affiliates on Saturday with a grand slam. In Worcester, Kristian Campbell appeared in his first game since being sent down on Friday, and the DSL squads matched up against one another. Meanwhile, Greenville and the FCL squad were unable to come away with victories.
Buffalo Bison (TOR) 10, Worcester Red Sox 6
The Worcester bullpen gave up six runs over the final three innings and the offense couldn't maintain its middle-innings production, falling to Buffalo. Worcester fell behind 2-0 after one inning and 4-1 after three before a four-run fourth, along with another tally in the fifth, gave Worcester a 6-4 lead. As part of the offense in the fourth inning, Vaughn Grissom and Trayce Thompson hit back-to-back home runs before Corey Rosier added a solo shot later in the frame. Following his demotion from Boston, Kristian Campbell went 0 for 3 with a walk in his first game in Worcester.
Cooper Criswell started for the WooSox and allowed four runs on four hits, one of which was a home run, walking two and striking out four in five innings. Hobie Harris took the loss in relief as he allowed three runs over the following two innings while allowing a home run of his own.
Portland Sea Dogs 5, Akron Rubberducks (CLE) 4
It was a grand evening for Mikey Romero, who connected on a grand slam in the second inning as part of a 2-for-4 evening. Playing as the designated hitter for the second game in a row as he returns from injury, Romero smoked a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall to open the scoring in a big way. In his first two games since returning, Romero is 4 for 8 with two home runs and eight runs driven in. The other Portland run came off the bat of Allan Castro, who connected on a solo home run in the bottom of the third.
Dalton Rogers earned the win with five innings of two-run ball with eight strikeouts mixed into his outing. Gabriel Jackson picked up his first save of the year after he pitched the final two frames, striking out a pair of hitters. He allowed a run on two hits.
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Greensboro Grasshoppers (PIT) 12, Greenville Drive 2
It was a mixed bag of results of the Greenville pitching staff. Although the group struck out 19 batters, they also allowed 13 hits, including four home runs, in the defeat. Noah Dean had a tough outing, allowing three runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts in two innings. He also allowed a two-run home run. The Drive offense did not see itself putting many runners on base with just five hits and a lone walk across the contest. Nelly Taylor and Yophery Rodriguez each had a pair of knocks, with Taylor reaching base three times along with driving in a run. Freili Encarnacion drove in the other run on an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
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Salem Red Sox 3, Fredericksburg Nationals (WSH) 1
A masterful pitching performance across the Salem pitching staff propelled the Red Sox to snap a two-game skid. Ben Hansen started the game and was strong, with four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out one. Austin Ehrlicher came on after Hansen and earned the win with 3 2/3 frames, surrendering a run on a trio of hits and walks each, but did add three strikeouts. Eybersson Polanco earned the save, as he didn't allow a run over the final four outs. Offensively, Andruw Musett and Frederik Jimenez each had multi-hit performances.
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FCL Twins 6, FCL Red Sox 5
The FCL Red Sox took an early 3-0 lead and rallied to retake the lead at 5-4 after three innings but failed to add on any runs while the bullpen surrendered the lead late in the game. Avinson Pinto started the game with a lead-off home run, and D'Angelo Ortiz added a second first-inning run with an RBI single. Pinto also doubled in the following inning to give the Red Sox a 3-0 advantage before Yoelvin Chirino allowed four runs in the second inning to put them behind. The Red Sox retook the lead on a two-run single by Jorge Rodriguez, which would be the final runs they would score.
Wuilliams Rodriguez took the loss in relief, pitching the final three innings and allowing a pair of unearned runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
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DSL Red Sox Red 5, DSL Red Sox Blue 1
An all-Red Sox matchup saw the Red squad plating four runs in the top of the first inning to take a lead that would hold for good. The offensive outburst was supplied by a Franklin Primera two-run double, Adrian Valdez RBI single and a Miguel Welch RBI double to put the Red squad ahead. They managed to add another run in the top of the third inning as Givian Sirvania doubled to score Valdez, which gave team Red a 5-1 lead. Team Blue got its lone run in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a sacrifice fly off the bat of Josue Brito. Leosmar Parez pitched three scoreless, hitless innings on his way to the win, while Angel Lopez took the loss after allowing four runs in one inning of action.
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Player of the Day: Mikey Romero has been unstoppable since returning from injury. Playing in his first two games since June 1, Romero has gone deep twice and has four hits, three of which have gone for extra bases. Romero is slashing .260/.341/.507 in 38 games this season in Portland and is currently the 10th-ranked prospect in the system.
Photo Credit: Mikey Romero by Kelly O'Connor