July 11, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Rosario's two homers power Portland comeback
Forgive the poetry on Draft Eve, but there is a full slate of games to attend to. Stateside affiliates won four out of five. Ronald Rosario (pictured) went deep twice as part of Portland's 13-hit, four-homer attack. Greenville and Salem had matching 9-8 victories, with Mason White leading the way for the Drive and Andrews Opata powering the RidgeYaks. Sadbiel Delzine continued to impress as the FCL Sox emerged victorious. Worcester dropped its contest against a former cohort, while the DSL squads found themselves swept away again.
-----
Old friend Luis Perales held the WooSox at bay, snapping their winning streak at four games. The longtime Red Sox farmhand battled through some early control trouble, but Worcester failed to fully capitalize. Braiden Ward led off the first with a walk, swiped second for his 40th steal of the season, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and raced home on a wild pitch. Perales walked the next two but quickly settled in. Tyler McDonough was 2 for 4 with a two-run homer in the ninth. Kristian Campbell singled and drew a pair of walks, while Mickey Gasper worked three free passes. Starter Raymond Burgos allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings of work, walking one and striking out one.
-----
The Sea Dogs ripped 13 hits, including four home runs, to knock off their New England rivals. Two of those came off the bat of Ronald Rosario: a game-tying two-run blast in the fourth inning, and another two-run shot in the eighth that proved to be the difference. Brooks Brannon and Will Turner both homered as part of their respective two-hit efforts. Jack Winnay was 3 for 5 with a pair of runs scored. On the mound, John Holobetz allowed four runs on four hits in five innings, striking out six against two walks. Jeremy Wu-Yelland picked up the winning decision, allowing a run on two hits in 2 2/3. Patrick Halligan struck out a pair in a perfect 1 1/3 innings to earn the save.
-----
Greenville withstood a late Grasshopper rally, holding on after surrendering five runs in the bottom of the ninth. The top half of the order pounded away at Greensboro pitching, with batters one through five in the lineup accounting for 12 of the team's 13 hits. Mason White was 3 for 5 with a home run, two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI. Gerardo Rodriguez added three hits of his own, including a sixth-inning solo homer and an RBI double in the eighth. Luke Heyman blasted his 15th home run of the season and ninth in just 33 games since being promoted from Salem. Justin Gonzalez homered, singled, and walked, scoring twice, while Isaiah Jackson doubled as part of his 2-for-5 evening.
Starter Marcus Phillips allowed just one run on two hits in 4 2/3, fanning six batters and walking four. After a difficult start to his first professional season, the 33rd overall pick in last July's draft has a solid 3.27 ERA in six starts since the beginning of June. Shea Sprague was credited with the win in relief, allowing two runs in 2 1/3.
-----
The RidgeYaks started the game with back-to-back homers to kick off a wild one in Columbia. Starlyn Nunez roped the first pitch of the game over the right field fence, and Andrews Opata followed with a homer to center only three pitches later. Opata finished the night 2 for 5 with three RBI. Givian Sirvania blasted a two-run homer in the fourth inning that brought the RidgeYaks within one. Andruw Musett was 2 for 3 with a walk, an RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Columbia reached starter Christian Foutch for five runs in the first, but he was able to work his way into the third inning without allowing additional damage. Yermain Ruiz allowed two runs on four hits in his four innings of relief. He struck out eight while walking only one, earning the winning decision. Joey Gartrell finished up with 2 2/3, allowing just one unearned run to get credit for the save.
-----
Sadbiel Delzine led a trio of hurlers to halt a six-game skid. Hobie Harris got the rehab start, striking out two of the three batters he faced. Delzine followed in the second, allowing a run on two hits in four innings, striking out three without issuing a walk. The 18-year-old's ERA ticked down to 2.43, and he now has 40 strikeouts in 37 innings. Williams Montero went the final four frames, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits, fanning five, and walking two. Edwin Darville had a big day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a walk, an RBI, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. Maximus Martin was 2 for 4 with a walk and two RBI, and he is now 12 for 28 (.429) during his rehab stint.
The win, combined with the FCL Orioles loss, helps the team's long-shot playoff chances. With 10 games remaining, they stand in seventh place in the wild card standings, 5.5 games back.
-----
A five-run second-inning rally went for naught as the Red squad fell to 7-20. Lester Suarez led the way at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a double, two walks, a run scored, and an RBI. Geomaikel Martinez also added a pair of hits and a walk, while Jhonny Osta was 2 for 3 with a double. After the Giants jumped on Maikel Vargas for four runs in the first, Harry Canedo and Ranci Castillo kept things close with 3 2/3 combined innings of scoreless bullpen work.
-----
The Padres Gold squad continues to dominate with a league-best 22-6 record. They jumped on starter Jesus Lopez for three runs in just 2/3 of an inning. Lopez had not allowed an earned run in his first four appearances of the year. Pedro Meza followed with 2 1/3 hitless frames, with Erickson Ettien posting three innings without allowing a hit immediately after. Enmanuel Figuereo led the way at the plate, blasting a solo home run and working a pair of walks.
-----
Player of the Day: There were several standout performers on Friday, with Mason White and Sadbiel Delzine meriting mention in particular, but the nod goes to veteran catcher Ronald Rosario. Signed as an international free agent in 2019 but unable to debut until 2021 because of the pandemic, Rosario has appeared in 343 games over six seasons across the organization. Rosario was invited to his first major league spring training camp this season.
Photo Credit: Ronald Rosario by Kelly O'Connor