June 18, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Tibbs debuts for Sea Dogs; Soto homers twice in DSL
-----
After struggling in his first two starts since being optioned to Worcester, Richard Fitts was lights out on Tuesday night. Fitts threw five shutout innings, allowing two hits and hitting two batters while striking out three. Chris Murphy followed him and allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout in an inning of relief. Bryan Mata allowed two runs on three hits in an inning and Alex Hoppe allowed one run in 2/3 of an inning. Isaiah Campbell earned his sixth save of the season with a shutout 1 1/3 innings.
Nick Sogard started the scoring for the WooSox with a solo home run in the third inning. Sogard had a great night out of the leadoff spot in the lineup, going 1 for 2 with three walks and scoring two runs. Wilyer Abreu, who is expected to be activated from the IL on Friday, began his rehab assignment as the designated hitter for the WooSox. Abreu went 1 for 4 and drove in the first run of a four-run fifth inning with an RBI single to right field. Blaze Jordan was 2 for 4 and scored a run.
-----
Connelly Early was fantastic on Tuesday night but took the loss as he received no run support. Early allowed one run on five hits, striking out eight batters and racking up 13 whiffs while walking none. The 11th ranked prospect in the system, Early lowered his ERA to 2.17 and he has struck out 74 batters in 49 2/3 innings with Portland this season. Yovanny Cruz walked three batters but tossed two scoreless innings of relief and Zach Bryant threw a shutout ninth inning. However, the Portland offense was unable to get anything going all night against Akron. Catcher Ronald Rosario recorded the Sea Dogs' only hit of the game with a single in the seventh inning. James Tibbs III, part of the package that the Red Sox received in exchange for Rafael Devers on Sunday, made his organizational debut and was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.
-----
The Drive bats got off to a quick start as Franklin Arias led off the game with a home run. Nazzan Zanetello and Brooks Brannon delivered an RBI double and an RBI single, respectively, to put Greenville ahead 3-0 in the first. However, the Drive were unable to push across any more runs in the game. Still, the Drive's middle infield duo of Arias and Zanetello had standout performances at the plate. Arias was 2 for 4 with a walk and Zanetello reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 2 for 2 with two walks.
Erik Rivera threw the first 1 2/3 innings for the Drive, allowing two runs (one earned) and walking a pair of batters. Michael Sansone allowed three runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings, taking the loss. Adam Smith struck out three and allowed two hits in two innings. Matt McShane gave up one run on two hits in two innings.
Greenville remains one-and-a-half games behind Bowling Green for the first half South Atlantic League South Division title. The first half ends on Thursday.
-----
Fredericksburg Nationals (WAS) @ Salem Red Sox (cancelled)
The opener of the series between Salem and Fredericksburg was cancelled due to poor field conditions.
-----
Catcher Jorge Rodriguez led the FCL Red Sox to a win, going 3 for 4 and cracking a two-run single in the third inning. Ilan Fernandez put the team ahead for good with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth as part of a 1-for-3 game. Starting pitcher Merlin Bido struggled with his control, walking five batters, but he minimized the damage and allowed only one run on one hit in 3 2/3 innings. Yermain Ruiz was great in relief, pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing two unearned runs on two hits and a walk while punching out five. Wuilliams Rodriguez struck out a batter in a scoreless ninth inning, picking up his first save.
-----
Sadbiel Delzine made his third start of the season, allowing two runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out three batters and walked one. Yander Bonaci struck out five and allowed one run in 3 2/3 innings. Juan Medina finished the game with two shutout innings, allowing one hit and walking three batters. After falling behind early in the game, the DSL Blue lineup rallied late to win the game. Hector Ramos hit an RBI triple in the seventh and then came around to score the game-tying run on a wild pitch. Ramos was 2 for 4, also collecting a double and scoring two runs. Catcher Lester Suarez put the team ahead with a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his first longball of the season.
-----
Dorian Soto had a huge performance, leading off the game with a home run and then blasting a two-run shot in the fifth inning in a 3-for-5 game. Alexander Alzi recorded the only other extra-base hit of the game with an RBI double in the fourth inning. Catcher Franklin Pimera, left fielder Adrian Valdez, and right fielder Geomaikel Martinez each had a pair of singles. Jakson Gamboa threw two scoreless innings to start the game, allowing a run and striking out a batter. Robert Moreno allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning. Yohandry Gonzalez was excellent in a five-inning bulk relief appearance, allowing one unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out four. Jose Golindano closed out the game with a shutout inning.
-----
Player of the Day: Dorian Soto had a monster performance for the DSL Red Sox Blue, going 3 for 5 with two home runs and three RBI. Soto recorded the first two home runs of his professional career but he had been off to an excellent start even before Tuesday's power display. The 17th prospect in the system, who signed a $1.4 million bonus last offseason, Soto is now hitting .415/.395/.634 through 10 games.
Photo Credit: Connelly Early by Kelly O'Connor