May 16, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Peguero shines in FCL; Coulombe rehabs for Portland
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Between losing players to Boston to cover injuries to the major league club and their own share of maladies, the WooSox have needed to use 28 pitchers, and the already-depleted rotation again needed reinforcement as Isaac Coffey was placed on the injured list early in the day. Cade Feeney was added from Portland and made the emergency start, allowing a run on two hits in two innings. Kyle Keller was saddled with the loss as he gave up a run on three hits in two frames, striking out three against one walk. Mikey Romero and Jason Delay were both 2 for 4 with a double. Delay added an RBI while Romero scored a pair of runs.
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After failing to take advantage of several opportunities during the first nine innings, Portland rallied to victory in the 10th. With automatic runner Ahbram Liendo on second, Max Ferguson ripped his third hit of the day to advance him to third. Nate Baez then plated Liendo with what proved to be the winning run. Brooks Brannon was 2 for 4 with a walk on the evening, giving him multiple hits in five of his last eight games. He is 14 for 31 with an even 1.000 slugging percentage during that stretch.
Danny Coulombe began his rehab assignment with an efficient first inning, throwing nine pitches, allowing one hit, and inducing a pair of ground ball outs. John Holobetz followed, allowing one run on three hits in five innings, striking out four and walking a pair. Joe Vogatsky was excellent in relief, giving up just one hit in three scoreless frames to earn the win. Caleb Bolden navigated a scoreless 10th for the save.
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The Drive continued to move in reverse, as they have now been outscored 30-8 in the first four games of the series and have dropped 13 of 14 games overall. Both Greenville runs came on solo homers, as Natanael Yuten went deep in the fourth and Yophery Rodriguez followed in the sixth. It is the organization-leading 10th homer of the campaign for Rodriguez, who had never hit more than seven in a season entering 2026. Justin Gonzales got the start at first base for the first time this year after having played the outfield exclusively. He was 1 for 4 with a walk. Starter Marcus Phillips took the loss, surrendering five runs on five hits in 3 2/3. Shea Sprague was unable to slow the Bowling Green bats, giving up another four runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 frames. Joey Gartrell finished the contest, allowing one unearned score in his 1 2/3.
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Salem fell short in Fredericksburg, evening the series at two games apiece. Ty Hodge drove in three of the six RidgeYak runs as part of his 2-for-4 effort, including two on an eighth-inning RBI double to bring his team within one. Starlyn Nunez had a pair of hits out of the leadoff spot while Frederik Jimenez picked up a double. Jason Gilman, Boston's 16th-round pick last July, got his first starting assignment as a pro. He allowed two runs on two hits in two innings, walking and striking out three apiece. Dalvinson Reyes took the loss, giving up three runs (two earned) in three frames.
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The FCL squad fell in a walk-off loss despite the efforts of Jhoan Peguero. The right fielder hit a game-tying solo homer in the top of the ninth to cap a 3-for-3 effort. He drew a walk, scored twice, and stole two bases. Dorian Soto was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored out of the leadoff slot, while Louis Andujar had a two-run homer as part of his two-hit afternoon. Starter Berny Ortiz struck out the side in the first and finished with five punch outs as he allowed two runs on three hits in 2 2/3 innings. Christopher Cordero followed, giving up a run in his two frames. Trent Wilson was a highlight out of the pen, firing 2 2/3 hitless innings.
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Player of the Day: Jhoan Peguero did it all in the FCL Sox loss. He singled twice, walked, hit a game-tying ninth-inning homer, stole two bases, and scored two runs. The speedy outfielder has played well to start the season, going 8 for 18 with two doubles and a homer, needing only seven games to match his 2025 extra-base hit total.
Photo Credit: Jhoan Peguero by Kelly O'Connor