July 22, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Witherspoon records 14 swings and misses; Opata hits grand slam
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Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) @ Worcester Red Sox (postponed)
The WooSox were rained out in the opening game of their series against Jacksonville and they will make up the game as part of a doubleheader today.
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The Sea Dogs coughed up a three-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning but Brooks Brannon put Portland back on top for good with a go-ahead homer to the opposite field in the top of the ninth. Brannon's home run was the third of the game for the Sea Dogs, as Jack Winnay and Ronald Rosario blasted solo homers in the third and fourth innings, respectively. Both Winnay and Rosario were 2 for 4 in the game, with Winnay's strong game pushing his average to .342 through his first 16 games in Portland.
Caleb Bolden started the game with three scoreless innings, striking out four batters while allowing two hits and a walk. Max Carlson followed him with a dominant 2 2/3 innings of relief, striking out three and allowing just a walk. Erik Rivera worked through a pair of scoreless innings before allowing the Rumble Ponies to start their eighth-inning rally, ending the day with two runs allowed. Jeremy Wu-Yelland surrendered a run without recording an out before turning the ball over to Cooper Adams for a shutout 1 1/3 innings.
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After struggling in his last couple of starts, Kyson Witherspoon turned in a solid outing on Tuesday night. He recorded four strikeouts on 14 whiffs in 4 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk. Adam Bates surrendered three runs in 3 1/3 innings of relief and Steven Brooks struck out three in 1 1/3 shutout frames. Greenville scored their only run of the game on an RBI single off the bat of Antonio Anderson in the first inning. Justin Gonzales was the only Drive hitter to record multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with a walk.
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After falling behind 7-0, the RidgeYaks received a jolt of excitement as Andrews Opata blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh. However, they were unable to complete their comeback bid as the game was called due to rain after the inning. Givian Sirvania was the only other RidgeYak with multiple hits as he went 2 for 3 and scored a run. Kleyver Salazar went 1 for 3 with a double. Jacob Mayers started on the mound and struggled with his control, walking four batters and allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits. Cole Tolbert struck out five hitters and gave up two runs (one earned) in three innings of relief and Luis Cohen threw a shutout inning.
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The FCL bats put up a good fight but were unable to come away with the win on Tuesday afternoon. Jorge Rodriguez led the charge with a huge game, going 3 for 4 with a home run, four RBI, and two runs scored. Edwin Darville reached base five times, going 2 for 2 with three walks, a double, two runs, and an RBI. Jostin Ogando drove in three runs and was 1 for 3 on the day. Minor League Rule 5 selection Caden Vire began a rehab assignment. Getting the starting nod, Vire allowed one run then was followed by Jakson Gamboa, who allowed two runs on six hits in two innings. Carter Rasmussen threw 2 2/3 strong innings out of the bullpen, allowing a run on two hits.
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It was a tough day for the Red Sox Blue bats, as they were no-hit on Tuesday afternoon. Three hitters reached base via walk in Miguel Welch, Isaac Velasquez, and Maikol Tovar. Christopher Silvestre did not have his sharpest game on the hill, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk in three innings. Hicter Ruiz tossed four great innings of relief, allowing an unearned run on five hits while punching out two hitters.
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DSL Padres Gold 2, DSL Red Sox Red 1 (8 innings)
It was a quiet game for the Red Sox Red hitters as well, as they scored their only run of the game on an RBI double off the bat of Joskairo Ramirez in the sixth inning. The Red squad's bats recorded only three hits, with Anderber Urbina and Axell Herrera contributing singles. Oscar Vaamonde walked five batters and allowed a run in 2 2/3 innings. Robert Moreno struck out four in 4 1/3 shutout frames, striking out four hitters, and Isael Fis allowed one run without recording an out.
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Player of the Day: While his chance at late-game heroics was cut short by the rain, Andrews Opata made a huge impact in the seven innings that he did play. Opata went 2 for 4 and drove in all four of Salem's runs with a grand slam in the seventh inning. That home run was Opata's seventh of the year and he is now hitting .243/.354/.371 with 39 stolen bases with Salem this season. Opata was signed to a $75,000 bonus as an undrafted free agent last year.
Photo Credit: Andrews Opata by Kelly O'Connor