June 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Tolle strikes out eight in Greenville loss
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The WooSox lineup put together an impressive performance against IronPigs starter Andrew Painter, who ranks as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Worcester scored six runs against the right-hander, including a four-run third inning highlighted by a two-run homer by Nate Eaton and an RBI double off the bat of Nathan Hickey. Tyler McDonough added a solo home run in the fourth. Jhostynxton Garcia was 1 for 3 with two walks and two runs scored, pushing his slash line to .352/.395/.606 in 17 games since being promoted to Triple-A. Blaze Jordan was 2 for 5 and knocked an RBI single in the seventh inning.
The Worcester pitching staff allowed only three hits total in a clean win for the WooSox. Isaac Coffey threw a gem in his second start with the WooSox, throwing five innings and allowing one run on one hit and one walk with four strikeouts. The bullpen was similarly strong, as Austin Adams, Alex Hoppe, and Jose Adames combined for four scoreless innings of relief.
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The Ehrhard brothers were the highlight of the night in an otherwise forgettable game for Portland's arms and bats. Starting pitcher David Sandlin, who ranks as the 12th prospect in the organization, was knocked around to the tune of five runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings. Tuesday's outing raised his ERA to 4.33 through 54 innings in Portland this season. Zach Bryant allowed three runs in two innings of relief and Drew Ehrhard threw a shutout inning. On the offensive side of the ball, his brother Zach Ehrhard was 2 for 3 with a walk and scored the only run of the game. Catcher Ronald Rosario was 2 for 3 with a walk and a ninth-inning RBI single.
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Left-hander Jovani Moran opened Tuesday night's game as he rehabs from Tommy John Surgery and allowed a run on two hits in 2/3 of an inning. Adam Smith finished the first with a scoreless 1/3 inning. In the second inning, Payton Tolle took over and threw five strong innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out eight batters. Cooper Adams threw two shutout frames to finish out the game. It was a quiet night for the Drive, as the lineup recorded only three hits. Freili Encarnacion accounted for Greenville's only run with a solo home run in the fifth inning. Encarnacion reached base in all three of his plate appearances, as he was also walked and hit by a pitch.
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Salem held a lead into the eighth but Delmarva strung together two runs against Griffin Kilander in the eighth to take the series opener. Kilander allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief, striking out four. Starting pitcher Steven Brooks threw 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while fanning seven batters. Natanael Yuten got the Salem bats off to a quick start with an RBI triple in the first inning. Justin Gonzales was 2 for 4 and hit a two-run double in the sixth inning. Enddy Azocar, who was one of the biggest risers on the most recent rankings update, was 1 for 3 with a walk.
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The FCL Red Sox turned a close game into a laugher with an eight-run eighth inning. Catcher Gerardo Rodriguez and shortstop Justin Barry each collected two RBI in the inning, as Rodriguez doubled as part of a 1-for-4 game and Barry hit a two-run single then came around to score on a double by Edwin Brito. Brito was 2 for 3, collecting a walk and scoring a run. Yermain Ruiz was the starting pitcher and turned in a strong performance, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings, striking out four batters. The bullpen was excellent as P.J. Labriola allowed no walks or hits in 1 2/3 innings and Merlin Bido punched out four while allowing one run in three innings.
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Sadbiel Delzine was sharp in his second outing in the DSL, tossing three innings and allowing no runs on one hit while striking out five. Juan Medina followed Delzine with 3 2/3 innings of relief, giving up two runs on five hits. Yomar De La Rosa threw a scoreless 1/3 of an inning and Oscar Vaamonde struck out one batter in a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Carlos Falcon allowed a run in 1/3 of an inning before Josue Brito closed out the game with 2/3 of a shutout inning. Leadoff hitter Harold Rivas did a fantastic job setting the table for the Red Sox Blue lineup, walking in all five of his plate appearances and scoring two runs. Second baseman Eliezer Alfonzo went 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored.
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Dorian Soto, Boston's top-rated prospect in the DSL (17th overall), was 2 for 4 out of the leadoff slot in the lineup and cracked an RBI single in the second. He is now 11 for 23 (.478) to start the DSL season. Catcher Franklin Pimera had an outstanding game, going 3 for 3 with a two-run double. Starting pitcher Jakson Gamboa allowed one unearned run in two innings. Berny Ortiz dominated in relief, striking out five batters and allowing one run on a hit and a walk in four innings. Yohandry Gonzalez allowed two runs (one earned) in three innings to pick up his first save of the season.
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Player of the Day: While he did not start the game, Payton Tolle continued his recent success as the bulk reliever for the Drive on Tuesday night. In five innings of relief, Tolle continued to rack up the strikeouts, punching out eight batters. Through 43 2/3 total innings with Greenville this season, Tolle has struck out 14.4 batters per nine innings while walking 2.3. Last year's second-round pick out of Texas Christian University, Tolle is ranked as the fifth prospect in the Red Sox organization and holds a 3.92 ERA following Tuesday's outing.
Photo Credit: Payton Tolle by Kelly O'Connor