May 9, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Brannon homers twice as Sea Dogs drop slugfest
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The WooSox pounded out 12 hits, including six for extra bases, as they won for the third time in four games against Scranton. Nick Sogard blasted a three-run homer and added a double for Worcester. Tsung-Tse Cheng also went deep, while Jason Delay was 3 for 4 on the evening. Starter Isaac Coffey allowed a run on three hits in four innings, striking out five against three walks. The RailRiders reached Angel Bastardo for a pair of runs in 1 2/3 frames, but Noah Song came on for a hitless 1 1/3 innings to pick up the winning decision. Wyatt Olds also tossed a scoreless frame, and Tommy Kahnle struck out a pair as he pitched around a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth.
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Despite a five-homer effort, Portland fell in extra innings to its fourth straight defeat. Two of the longballs came from Brooks Brannon, with a second-inning solo shot and a three-run blast in the fifth. Brannon added a single and a sacrifice fly, finishing the evening with six runs driven in. Down 13-11 in the ninth, Marvin Alcantara delivered a game-tying two-run homer to send the game into extra innings. Alcantara added a walk and a stolen base. Nate Baez and Nelly Taylor had matching lines, both going 1 for 3 with a homer and two walks. Will Turner was 2 for 5 with a walk and three runs scored.
New Hampshire jumped out with a five-run first inning off of Portland starter John Holobetz, who was lifted after just one inning of work. After adding eight more runs against the trio of Patrick Halligan, Cooper Adams, and Reidis Sena, utilityman Tyler McDonough was forced into mound duty for the 10th. The veteran surrendered a pair of runs (one earned) and was saddled with the loss.
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Recently-promoted lefty Dylan Brown made his Greenville debut, as the 2025 eighth-rounder impressed in five Salem starts. It was a mixed bag for the Old Dominion product, as he allowed three runs on seven hits across four innings, striking out six, walking one, and hitting two batters. Brown pounded the strike zone, throwing 48 of 63 pitches (76.2%) for strikes, but seven of the 11 balls in play he allowed went for base hits. Devin Futrell went the next four innings, surrendering four runs on six hits. Mason White spoiled the Greensboro shutout bid when he delivered a solo home run with two outs in the ninth. Yoeilin Cespedes was 1 for 4 with a single and is now 17 for 43 in his last nine games.
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Salem outhit Delmarva 10 to five and limited the Shorebirds to just two hits after the second inning, but were unable to rally out of an early 3-0 deficit. Barrett Morgan allowed three runs on three hits in 3 2/3 innings, with all three runs coming in the second. He walked three and struck out five. Dalvinson Reyes was nearly perfect in relief, going 4 1/3 hitless innings and striking out five. The only baserunner allowed by the 19-year-old was on a hit by a pitch. Adam Bates pitched around two hits and a walk to escape with a scoreless ninth. At the plate, Andrews Opata was 2 for 4 with Salem's lone RBI. Andruw Musett made his 2026 debut, going 2 for 3 with a walk. Enddy Azocar ripped his ninth double of the season and scored a run.
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The FCL Sox advanced only as far as third base once, falling to 1-4 in the young season. Christopher Alvarado had the only multi-hit effort, going 2 for 3 with a stolen base. Starter Williams Montero made his stateside debut as he allowed two runs on three hits in 2 1/3, striking out four without issuing a walk. Yermain Ruiz fanned five in his 2 2/3 innings of work but was reached for a solo home run, while Merlin Bido finished with a scoreless seventh.
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Player of the Day: Portland fell short in its slugfest, but not due to the efforts of Brooks Brannon. The first baseman blasted two home runs as part of a three-hit, six-RBI evening that was his third multi-hit effort in his last four games. After missing the first three weeks of the season, Brannon has an impressive .286/.409/.743 in 11 contests. Originally drafted as a catcher, the 2022 ninth-round pick has played exclusively first base thus far in 2026.
Photo Credit: Brooks Brannon by Kelly O'Connor