August 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Uberstine and Mullins add strong pitching outings, Salem splits doubleheader
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Tyler Uberstine was magnificent on the mound, allowing a pair of runs across 5 2/3 innings on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. While Uberstine was pitching well on the mound, the WooSox offense scored the first five runs of the game. In the bottom of the first, Nathan Hickey singled to right field to score Mikey Romero to make it 1-0. An inning later, Kristian Campbell roped a single off the bat at 104 mph that drove in Seby Zavala and Chadwick Tromp. Zavala added to the lead with a two-run home run in the third, his seventh of the season.
After Uberstine, Jovani Moran followed and struck out four in two innings while allowing a run. Leading 5-2 in the sixth, Romero grounded out to second to plate Nick Sogard. Zack Kelly recorded the final four outs to pick up the save, but struggled by allowing two runs along with a home run.
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Hayden Mullins picked up his fifth win of the season in the latest start in a season full of strong showings. Despite allowing six hits and walking four, the left-hander only allowed two runs and struck out six in five innings to lower his season ERA to 2.30 across 87 1/3 frames. After Mullins, Cooper Adams pitched the next three innings without a run scoring and six strikeouts and Zach Bryant tossed a scoreless ninth.
The Portland offense was led by Ahbram Liendo and Allan Castro, who each had two-hit performances with a stolen base. Liendo added a walk while Castro contributed his 33rd RBI of the year on a single in the first inning. Justin Riemer, Caden Rose and Ronald Rosario also drove in runs. Of note, in the win, Portland manager Chad Epperson passed Arnie Beyeler to become the winningest manager in Sea Dogs history, with 283 victories. Epperson is in his fourth season as Portland's manager.
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After scoring in the top of the first on a Yophery Rodriguez RBI single, Greenville fell behind early as Shane Drohan struggled as part of his rehab assignment. The left-hander was tagged for four runs on five hits with two walks and a hit batter while taking the loss. He also struck out two and threw 37 of his 55 pitches for strikes. Greenville trailed 3-1 after the first and could never find its footing. Michael Sansone pitched in bulk relief following Drohan, tossing the next 5 1/3 innings with three runs (one earned), five hits and three strikeouts charged to him as he lowered his ERA to 2.70 in 56 2/3 innings with the Drive.
Greenville added a pair of runs in the eighth after a wild pitch plated Rodriguez follwed by an RBI groundout by Maximus Martin. While it was a relatively quiet night for the Drive, Rodriguez and Andruw Musett each had multi-hit evenings in the loss. Along with his RBI, Martin added a single and Nazzan Zanetello went 1 for 5 with a run scored in his first game since July 12. With the loss, Greenville sits in a three-way tie with Hub City and Bowling Green atop the second half standings in the South Atlantic League South Division at 27-26.
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The duo of Joey Gartrell and Griffin Kilander combined to complete the shutout in the first game of the doubleheader. Gartrell pitched the first three frames, scattering three hits and two walks while striking out four. Kilander picked up the win in relief by pitching the final four frames with a pair of hits, one walk and four strikeouts on his line.
Salem got its two runs in the game in the fourth on a run-scoring double by Yoeilin Cespedes and a double steal by Kleyver Salazar and Cespedes, with Salazar taking second and Cespedes crossing home. Justin Gonzales continued his strong season with a 2-for-3 outing while hitting his 22nd double of the year.
A back-and-forth game saw Salem grab an early 2-0 lead after RBI singles by Frederik Jimenez and Yohander Linarez before Carolina scored seven runs across the third and fourth innings as Ben Hansen ran into trouble in the losing effort. Hansen could not make it out of the fourth, allowing five runs (four earned runs) on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. P.J. Labriola got the final out of the fourth but not before allowing a pair of runs thanks to two hits and two walks. Jay Allmer and Wuilliams Rodriguez got the final nine outs of the game with four runs (two earned runs) tallied between the two.
Jimenez's run-scoring single was part of a 2-for-3 night for him, which also included a run scored and a walk. Caleb Berry also had two hits including a two-run single in the sixth. D'Angelo Ortiz added an RBI on a walk and Justin Gonzales slugged his 23rd double of the season while maintaining an .814 OPS with Salem this season.
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Player of the Day: While Boston has seen plenty of its pitching prospects take big strides this season, Hayden Mullins has impressed as the season reaches the final stretch. In Portland's win, Boston's 12th-round pick from the 2022 draft allowed a pair of runs across five innings with six strikeouts to earn his fifth win. Across four starts in August, Mullins has registered a 1.66 ERA over 21 2/3 innings. Mullins is currently the 22nd-ranked prospect at SoxProspects.com.
Photo Credit: Tyler Uberstine by Kelly O'Connor