July 30, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Azocar, Gonzles support Witherspoon in Greenville rout
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A solid start by Blake Wehunt was backed by an 11-hit offensive attack. Wehunt earned his first Triple-A victory in his second Worcester start allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits across five innings. He struck out four, walked two and threw 46 of his 70 pitches for strikes. Tyler Samaniego allowed just one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless, followed by 1 2/3 perfect frames by Angel Bastardo. Bastardo struck out three, and now how fanned 20 without walking a batter in eight July outings. Wyatt Olds pitched a hitless ninth, walking and striking out two apiece.
Vinny Capra led the way at the plate with a double and a two-run homer. A day after Kristian Campbell saw his hitting streak snapped at eight games, he got back on track with a two-hit effort. Mikey Romero doubled and scored twice as part of a 2-for-5 evening, while Brett Harris added a two-run blast. Franklin Arias had his first single in a WooSox uniform, going 1 for 4 on the night.
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A five-run ninth-inning comeback doomed the Sea Dogs in Wednesday's back-and-forth contest. Max Carlson had opener duty, going the first three innings. He allowed a run on two hits, walking one while striking out six. The Senators reached Joe Vogatsky for three runs (two earned) in two innings before Patrick Halligan fired three shutout frames as the Sea Dogs re-took the lead. Erik Rivera was saddled with the loss after surrendering the ninth-inning rally. At the plate, Mason White had his first multi-hit game since his promotion from Greenville, going 2 for 4 with a walk and a pair of RBI. Ronald Rosario was 2 for 4 with a walk, double, and run scored. Matt Frazier also doubled as part of a two-hit effort.
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This one was all Greenville from the time when Justin Gonzales, the game's second batter, blasted a home run in the first inning. It was the third straight game with a homer and 15th on the season for Gonzales, who also drew a pair of walks. Enddy Azocar had a monster night out of the leadoff spot. The 19-year-old outfielder was 4 for 6 with four RBI, the final one coming on a cherry-on-top solo homer in the ninth. It was Azocar's eighth home run of the month and his 16th of the year across two levels. Maximus Martin had his first homer since being activated from his rehab stint, and Antonio Anderson chipped in with a pair of doubles. Ronny Hernandez reached base four times, going 2 for 3 with two walks, two RBI, and two runs scored.
The offensive explosion was more than enough support for 2025 first-round pick Kyson Witherspoon. Witherspoon scattered four hits across 5 1/3 innings, only allowing one run on a third-inning solo homer. He struck out five, walked one, and after something of a shaky first six weeks has settled down with a 3.31 ERA in his last 10 starts. Alex Bouchard got the rare save in a 12-run victory, allowing just two hits while firing 3 2/3 scoreless frames.
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Salem came out firing in the doubeheader opener, as Louis Andujar blasted a two-run homer to cap a three-run first inning. Kleyver Salazar continued his excellent July with a double, RBI, and pair of walks, raising his slash line on the month to .440/.556/.720. Starlyn Nunez doubled and homered out of the leadoff spot. Perhaps the most positive news of the night was the appearance of Franklin Primera, who returned the the RidgeYaks lineup as the designated hitter. Primera had left Saturday's game after a swing hit his hand while he was catching. Starter Christian Foutch went four innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits. He struck out five and walked three. Cole Tolbert went the final three innings to pick up the victory, giving up one run on two hits.
The nightcap was a pure pitchers' duel, with the two teams combining for just five hits in the seven-inning affair. Jason Gilman was the tough-luck losing pitcher. He went the (shortened) distance, getting a six-inning complete game, allowing a run on three hits. Gilman struck out four, walked two, and sports a tidy 2.91 ERA in 55 2/3 innings with the RidgeYaks. Salem was held hitless until the fifth inning, when Anderson Fermin singled with two outs. Primera, back behind the plate for the first time after returning to the lineup in the first game, had Salem's other base hit.
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Player of the Day: Enddy Azocar finished June in the midst of a 2-for-38 skid, but his power has been on display in July. He leads the system this month with eight homers and 20 RBI, posting a .282/.317/.667 slash line. Currently ranked sixth in the system, Azocar was inked to a $40,000 bonus out of Venezuela in January 2024, emerging with current Greenville teammate Justin Gonzales as the top signees that year.
Photo Credit: Justin Gonzales and Enddy Azocar by Kelly O'Connor