May 21, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Garcia powers Portland; Bennett fans 11 for WooSox
Jake Bennett started a pitchers' duel against his former organization that remained knotted at 2-2 until an 11th-inning breakout. Bennett struck out a career-high 11 batters without issuing a walk in his five innings of work, allowing one run on seven hits. Ian Cundall was on the scene, reporting that the lefty was up to 96 with the fastball and showed "good feel with his curveball and sweeper." Rochester picked up another run off of Kyle Keller in the sixth, before the trio of Eduardo Rivera, Tayron Guerrero, and Tommy Kahnle combined for four hitless innings. Guerrero was the most impressive of the group, touching 102 and striking out three batters. A five-run 11th against Wyatt Olds made for a lopsided-looking final score.
The offense failed to pick up a hit in eight at-bats with a runner in scoring position. The two runs scored on a fifth-inning homer by Matt Lloyd and a run-scoring groundout by Nate Eaton that scored Tsung-Tse Cheng to tie the game in the ninth.
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A big night at the plate from Johanfran Garcia supported batterymate Hayden Mullins in Portland. Garcia kicked off the game's scoring with an RBI single in the first, added a solo homer in the sixth, walked, and scored three runs. He is now riding a seven-game hitting streak. Nelly Taylor doubled twice, while Nate Baez added his 10th two-bagger of the season as part of a 2-for-5 evening. Mullins allowed just one hit over five innings and struck out seven batters, which allowed him to overcome some wobbly control. He walked three batters and hit another with a pitch as he surrendered two runs over those five frames. Through 32 2/3 innings, Mullins has racked up 49 strikeouts but has issued more walks (18) than he has allowed hits (15). Max Carlson allowed two runs (one earned) in two innings in relief, and Cade Feeney finished the contest with two scoreless frames.
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It was Boston shutting down Greenville in matinee action. The Drive managed just two hits against Baltimore prospect and former Padres second-round pick Boston Bozeman in his 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Dylan Brown kept things close, giving up just two runs across five innings in his third start since his promotion to the Drive. He walked one and struck out three. Adonys Guzman went deep for the Drive to spoil the shutout bid. Yoeilin Cespedes then blasted a two-run shot in the ninth, his eighth round-tripper of the season, but the Greenville rally fell short.
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A quartet of RidgeYak hurlers combined for a three-hit victory that was made all the more impressive by the fact that the team bus needed to find the generically-named "Hill City" in order to do so. D'Angelo Ortiz ripped two doubles off of the longtime Lynchburg Hillcats, who made the curious decision this offseason to go incognito. Ortiz drove in a run and scored another. Enddy Azocar continues to impress the organizational brass in the City on the Hill, which is not to be confused with "Hill City." It is also the Hub of the Universe, not to be confused with "Hub City." Azocar ripped his 15th double of the season while also drawing a walk. He has now doubled in five straight games and has 23 total bases in 26 at-bats during a six-game hitting streak. Andrews Opata delivered a solo homer to lead off the fourth inning and added his 20th stoplen bases of the year.
It was an uphill battle for Howler hitters against Barrett Morgan and company. Morgan surrendered two runs (one earned) on just one hit in 4 1/3 innings, an effort that actually saw his ERA rise to 2.01. Adam Bates got credit for the win, giving up an unearned run on two hits in 2 1/3. Wuilliams Rodriguez held the Hilliams hitless in two innings, and Harry Blum recorded the final out to complete the victory.
Player of the Day: A day after his brother's recall by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Johanfran Garcia celebrated with a huge night at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a homer and three runs scored. A seven-game hitting streak has boosted Garcia's 2026 slash line from .159/.213/.455 to .236/.304/.500. Currently ranked #44 in the system, the 21-year-old backstop has battled injuries during his career, including missing much of 2024 after knee surgery.
Photo Credit: Johanfran Garcia by Kelly O'Connor