May 28, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Hernandez, Azocar power Greenville; Arias show continues
Jake Bennett turned in another strong start as the WooSox cruised on Wednesday morning. It was an inauspicious start, as Bennett surrendered a home run on the first pitch he threw, but he quickly settled in. He did not allow another score across his five innings of work, scattering four hits, walking one, and striking out seven. The effort lowered Bennet's ERA to 1.83, and he has allowed one run or fewer in seven of his eighth Worcester starts. A trio of relievers combined for four hitless innings to complete the win. Eduardo Rivera struck out two and walked one in his two innings for work. Angel Bastardo got the eighth, also striking out a pair against one walk, giving way to Devin Sweet who struck out one in a perfect ninth.
Anthony Seigler led the offense, blasting a solo homer in the first and driving in two more as part of a 3-for-5 day. Adam Eaton doubled twice, scored twice, and drove in two, while Vinny Capra was 2 for 4 with a double and a pair of runs driven in.
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Franklin Arias continues to mash Double-A pitching, this time in support of a quality start from Blake Wehunt. Arias led off the game with a ball that everyone except the umpiring crew seemed to agree went off a sign over the right field fence and ended up going for a single. Learning his lesson, the 20-year-old deposited his next baseball over the center field fence where there would be no doubt, his 12th round-tripper of 2026. Will Turner had a second-inning solo shot along with three walks and a stolen base, scoring two runs. Catcher Johanfran Garcia went deep for the seventh time in 23 games.
This was all plenty of support for Wehunt, who went six strong innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, striking out eight, and walking one. Wehunt has allowed just six earned runs in his six starts since returning from an early-season stint on the injured list. Erik Rivera fired a hitless seventh, walking a pair while striking out one. Max Carlson finished off the evening with two scoreless innings, striking out five.
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The Drive pounded out 13 hits as they continue to batter Asheville pitching. Ronny Hernandez had a huge afternoon, driving in five runs as he went 3 for 5. He delivered a three-run homer in the fourth inning along with a double, walk, and two runs scored. Enddy Azocar blew the game open with a seventh-inning grand slam, his seventh homer of the year and first since his promotion to Greenville. Yophery Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with a double, walk, and three runs scored, and Mason White had a three-hit day. Starter Marcus Phillips struggled with his control, walking four and striking out four as he allowed four runs across 2 2/3 innings. PJ Labriola went 1 1/3 hitless frames of relief to pick up the win. Matt McShane earned the save with 2 2/3 scoreless, allowing just one hit and striking out four without issuing a walk. Asheville has now lost 15 of 16, and Greenville has one seven out of the eight head-to-head contests with the Tourists.
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A quartet of Hickory hurlers held the RidgeYaks to just three hits on Wednesday's only evening contest. Kleyver Salazar had two of those knocks, including his ninth double of the year. Starter Christian Foutch allowed a run on three hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking one. Luis Cohen went four scoreless in a piggyback role, scattering a pair of hits and striking out four.
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Player of the Day: Ronny Hernandez has played well as he fights for playing time amid the Drive's crowded catcher scene. In nine games since his activation, Hernandez is 11 for 31 with four doubles, three homers, seven walks, and just three strikeouts, good for a .355/.474/.774 slash line. The 21-year-old Hernandez was the return from the White Sox in an offseason deal for pitcher Chris Murphy.
Photo Credit: Franklin Arias by Kelly O'Connor