April 13, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Tolle dazzles again; Futrell sets down 15 straight
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Allan Castro entered the day with a .514 OPS and ended it at .695 as he broke out in a big way on Sunday. Castro launched two home runs, including a grand slam, as he drove in six runs to lead the WooSox. Tsung-Che Cheng went 1 for 4 with a double, while Braiden Ward went 1 for 2 with a walk and two steals. The run support was more than enough for Payton Tolle as he improved to 2-0 with five shutout innings. He allowed three hits and a walk while striking out six. Tommy Kahnle finished the game off with a scoreless ninth that included a strikeout.
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The Sea Dogs had a four-run lead after five innings, but the bullpen struggled and first baseman Drew Ehrhard pitched the ninth. It was a strong bounce back from Hayden Mullins as he allowed two runs (one earned) over four innings while striking out seven. Joe Vogatsky, who was making his Double-A debut, followed but was tagged for eight runs while recording four outs. Ehrhard allowed a home run in the top of the ninth, but he got his revenge by clubbing a three-run homer of his own in the bottom of the frame. Ronald Rosario led the team with three hits as he went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI. Nate Baez reached base four times as he went 1 for 1 with three walks.
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It was another shaky outing for Marcus Phillips as Hub City earned a series split. Phillips surrendered three runs (two earned) over his three innings while walking one, striking out three, and allowing a home run. The loss went to Austin Ehrlicher, though he was let down by his defense. Only one of the three runs he allowed were earned. Yophery Rodriguez and Adonys Guzman each had a single and a double, while Guzman drove in three runs. Yoeilin Cespedes went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk, and Henry Godbout had a tough day in the plate and in the field. The 22-year-old went 0 for 4 while committing three errors.
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It was a rout in Salem as the RidgeYaks scored in all but two innings. Five starters had multi-hit games, led by Luke Heyman who went 2 for 3 with a home run, walk, and three RBI. Andrews Opata capped off a massive series against Wilson by going 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI. Anderson Fermin went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI, and Stanley Tucker went 2 for 4 with a double, walk, and RBI. Devin Futrell was able to cruise behind all the run support as he fired off five hitless innings with four strikeouts. He retired 15 straight after allowing a leadoff walk to begin the game.
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Player of the Day: Both Allan Castro and Devin Futrell have strong cases, but the nod will go to Futrell who fired off five near-perfect innings. The 23-year-old left-hander has posted some absurd numbers on his first two trips through the rotation. He has allowed just three baserunners over nine innings while striking out 10. The pitching rotations in the lower minors are stacked with strong performers, but Futrell is doing all he can to show he is ready for a tougher assignment.
Photo Credit: Devin Futrell by Kelly O'Connor