April 19, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Holobetz continues hot start in Portland, Eyanson and Futrell combined for a shutout in Greenville
4/19 Cup of Coffee: Although it was a 1-3 evening across the Boston farm system, there were plenty of highlights among the games. In Portland, John Holobetz followed up his nine-strikeout game last week with another masterpiece. Anthony Eyanson and Devin Futrell combined to give Greenville a shutout win, and Enddy Azocar slugged his first two home runs of 2026.
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After Reidis Sena allowed a first-inning run, Worcester scratched across its only run of the game as Allan Castro singled, stole second, and came home to score on a single by Matt Thaiss. After Sena tossed the first two frames on the mound, Noah Song struck out five while holding Nashville scoreless to keep the game tied. Wyatt Olds took the loss with a run allowed in 2 1/3 innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Kyle Keller followed and pitched a scoreless eighth with a hit and strikeout.
Mickey Gasper led Worcester by reaching base three times with a hit and pair of walks on his line, Mikey Romero and Kristian Campbell each managed to get a hit and walk as well.
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John Holobetz was the tough loser in the shutout loss as the right-hander allowed a single hit- a home run in the fifth inning- and walked one batter while striking out a career-high 11 across seven innings of work. Holobetz tossed 54 of his 74 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 1.13 over his first 16 frames this season. Jedixson Paez relieved Holobetz in the eighth for his first appearance back with the Boston organization since being returned from the White Sox as part of the Rule 5 draft rules. Paez allowed a home run but also struck out a batter.
The Portland offense scattered seven hits across the contest but went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. Nelly Taylor had the lone multi-hit effort for the Sea Dogs while Franklin Arias finally cooled off with an 0-for-4 outing, snapping a five-game hitting streak.
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It was a pitching showcase in Greenville as Anthony Eyanson and Devin Futrell covered all nine innings in the shutout victory. Eyanson continued his amazing start to his professional career by firing five scoreless frames with a pair of hits being the only baserunners the right-hander allowed. He threw 39 of his 55 pitches for strikes and now sports an eye-popping 0.73 ERA and 0.41 WHIP across his first 12 1/3 innings. Futrell came on after Eyanson for his first appearance back in Greenville since earning a promotion from Salem. The left-hander took home the win with four shutout innings of his own with a hit and walk along with three strikeouts. Futrell appeared in five games for the Drive last season and recorded a 1.09 ERA in 24 2/3 frames.
Greenville struck in the sixth inning with three runs to grab the lead for good. Jack Winnay doubled home a run and later came home to score on a wild pitch, and Yophery Rodriguez drove in Mason White with a run-scoring double to cap off the inning. The club added another run in the following inning on a Yoeilin Cespedes RBI single that plated Justin Gonzales, who doubled to open the bottom of the seventh. Gonzales and Cespedes each recorded a pair of hits to lead the offensive attack.
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Leading 7-3 entering the late innings, Salem's bullpen could not hold onto the lead and allowed 10 runs across the seventh and eighth innings to fall on Saturday. Jose Bello started and allowed a run on two hits with two walks while recording five outs. Christian Foutch relieved Bello and pitched the next three innings, allowing a run on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. While Foutch was in command on the mound, Salem got a pair of home runs off the bat of Enddy Azocar. The outfielder connected on his first of the season in the top of the third and slugged his second just an inning later as part of a 3-for-5 outing to raise his OPS this season to .820 in 59 plate appearances. Frederik Jimenez was the only other RidgeYaks player to record an RBI as he drove in a run on a single in the fourth.
With Salem Leading, Adam Bates picked up a hold in relief with 2 1/3 innings pitched, although he allowed four runs and did not strike out a hitter. Harry Blum was the final pitcher of the night for Salem and eventually took the loss, surrendering six runs (five earned runs) on four hits with three walks while also allowing a home run in the effort.
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Player of the Day: It's not often that the player of the day comes in a losing effort, but John Holobetz becomes an exception on Saturday. Despite taking the loss in Portland's defeat to Altoona, the 23-year-old has looked unstoppable early on this season. Along with his aforementioned 1.13 ERA, he has struck out 20 hitters over his last two outings, spanning just 11 innings. Holobetz is currently ranked as the 14th prospect according to SoxProspects.com
Photo Credit: John Holobetz by Kelly O'Connor