July 24, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Knizner, Salazar finish triple shy of cycle; FCL season ends
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Andrew Knizner led the charge offensively for Worcester in Thursday's matinee, going 3 for 3 with one double, one home run, six RBI, two runs scored, and three walks. Nate Eaton, Braiden Ward, and Nick Sogard enjoyed three-hit games as well. Eaton drove in two runs, scored twice, and stole one base. Ward and Sogard combined to score five runs. Jason Delay went 2 for 4 with one triple, one RBI, two runs scored, one stolen base, and one walk. Allan Castro doubled, homered, drove in three runs, and scored twice as part of a 2-for-5 afternoon. Mickey Gasper doubled, drove in one run, scored another, and drew one walk. Tyler McDonough drove in one run, scored twice, stole one base, and drew two walks.
Raymond Burgos picked up the win in his start after allowing only one earned run on four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts over a season-high 5 2/3 innings. He threw 78 pitches (53 strikes) and generated nine whiffs. Tyler Samaniego, Seth Martinez, and Nathan Hickey combined for 3 1/3 scoreless frames of relief the rest of the way.
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John Holobetz put together a dominant start for Portland, scattering three hits and no walks while striking out 10 over five scoreless innings. He threw 80 pitches (55 strikes) and generated 16 whiffs. Reidis Sena followed with six additional strikeouts across 2 2/3 scoreless frames of relief. Cooper Adams gave up a two-run home run in the ninth but held on to notch his fifth save of the year.
Franklin Arias, in perhaps his final Double-A game, made his only hit of the night count, as he went 1 for 4 with a solo shot (his 19th home run of the season) and one walk. Mason White tripled and scored one run. Nate Baez and Caden Rose both doubled, with the latter scoring once. Will Turner and Raudelis Martinez each drove in one run. Jack Winnay drew three walks.
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Hub City Spartanburgers (TEX) @ Greenville Drive (PPD)
This game was postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a Friday doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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Kleyver Salazar stayed red-hot at the plate for Salem, going 3 for 3 with one double, one home run, three RBI, two runs scored, and two walks. D'Angelo Ortiz went 2 for 3 with two RBI, one stolen base, and one walk. Franklin Primera and Avinson Pinto each went 2 for 4, with the former recording one double, one RBI, and three runs, and the latter recording one RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. Justin Barry doubled in one run, stole one base, and drew one walk. Starlyn Nunez scored one run, stole one base, and drew one walk.
Jason Gilman went 4 1/3 innings in his start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits (including one home run), four walks, and six strikeouts. He threw 82 pitches (53 strikes) and generated 15 whiffs. Joey Gartrell and Harry Blum combined to give up four additional runs over 4 1/3 innings of relief. Wuilliams Rodriguez recorded the final out of the night via strikeout to lock down his fourth save of the year.
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The FCL squad fell in their season finale. Berny Ortiz took the loss in his start after surrendering seven earned runs on six hits, two walks, two hit by pitches, and three strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings. Three relievers combined to give up six additional runs. At the plate, Liosward Marin stood out by going 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI. Nazzan Zanetello went 2 for 3 with one home run, one RBI, three runs scored, one stolen base, and one walk. Josue Brito doubled, tripled, drove in one run, and scored twice as part of a 2-for-4 day. Harold Rivas went deep for the sixth time this season. Edwin Darville drew one walk and stole two bases, while Fabian Bonilla swiped his first bag as a pro.
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Emanuel Jimenez took the loss in his start for the Blue squad, allowing four runs (one earned) on one hit, four walks, and seven strikeouts over four innings. Carlos Falcon pitched well in relief, as he struck out five more across four scoreless frames. Offensively, Freyerso Vasquez doubled and drove in one run as part of a 3-for-4 day. Krishan Ulacio also doubled and scored one run. Miguel Welch went 1 for 4 with one RBI, one run scored, and one stolen base.
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Isaac Brujan was charged with the losing decision in his start for the Red squad after surrendering five earned runs on seven hits (including one home run), no walks, one hit by pitch, and one strikeout over 4 1/3 innings. Four relievers combined to give up seven additional runs across 4 2/3 total innings out of the bullpen. At the plate, Lester Suarez stood out by going 2 for 3 with one home run, two RBI, two runs scored, and one walk. Dawvris Brito also went deep while going 2 for 5. Joskairo Ramirez and Jhonny Osta each went 2 for 4, with the former recording two RBI, one run, and one walk, and the latter recording one double and one RBI. Geomaikel Martinez tripled and scored one run. Anderber Urbina scored two runs, stole one base, and drew one walk.
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Player of the Day: Andrew Knizner gets the nod for reaching base six times and finishing a triple shy of the cycle on Thursday. Signed to a minor league contract in late June, the 31-year-old journeyman catcher is now batting .315/.448/.537 with six doubles, two home runs, 14 RBI, six runs scored, one stolen base, 12 walks, and nine strikeouts through his first 15 games (67 plate appearances) for Worcester.
Photo Credit: Andrew Knizner by Kelly O'Connor