August 27, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Andujar reaches six times in twinbill; Shelar blasts first homer
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It was a tough evening at Polar Park for the WooSox, who were outhit 13 to five and failed to register an extra-base hit. Rehabbers Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Roman Anthony, and Trevor Story occupied the top three spots in the lineup and went a combined 0 for 10, though Kiner-Falefa did draw a pair of walks and stole a base. Allan Castro had the only multi-hit effort, going 2 for 4. Franklin Arias singled to bring his hitting streak to six games. Starter Gage Ziehl took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits in three innings. He struck out one, walked one, and allowed two homers. Noah Song had a strong effort out of the bullpen, fanning four as he allowed two hits in three shutout innings. Tyler Samaniego and Devin Sweet went a scoreless inning apiece before Scranton picked up an insurance run in the ninth against Sam McWilliams.
The loss drops sixth-place Worcester to 4 1/2 games behind Indianapolis in the International League standings.
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The Sea Dogs snapped a five-game losing streak with a wild extra-inning victory. The game remained scoreless through nine innings, followed by both teams scoring single runs in the 10th and 12th frames. Portland plated three in the 13th, highlighted by a two-run Yoeilin Cespedes homer, and held on as Richmond rallied in the bottom of the inning. It was the 20th round tripper of the year for Cespedes and the second since he was promoted to Double-A at the start of the month. Henry Godbout singled, walked, and delivered a sacrfice fly in the 12th that gave the Sea Dogs a 2-1 advantage.
Portland got outstanding pitching throughout the evening. Starter Hayden Mullins scattered four hits across 5 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one. After an inconsistent first half of the season, Mullins now has a 1.97 ERA across seven outings since the break, striking out 44 in 32 innings. Max Carlson followed with 2 1/3 shutout frames, allowing one hit, walking one, and fanning four. Reidis Sena went two innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out three. Jeremy Wu-Yelland earned the win, matching Sena with one unearned run in two frames. Wu-Yelland pitched around a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in the 11th with the winning run on third base. With the roster of pitchers exhausted, veteran infielder Ahbram Liendo came on to pitch in the 13th. He allowed two unearned runs and got credit for the save.
First-place Reading also won on Wednesday, so Portland remains in fourth, 5 1/2 back.
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The Drive were limited to four hits by a quartet of Emperor hurlers. Owen Hull doubled to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He has reached base in all 16 contests of his pro career. He also scored Greenville's lone run on Wednesday, coming on to score on a Maximus Martin double. Jason Gilman turned in a strong start, cruising through five scoreless innings before allowing a pair of unearned runs when he came on for the sixth. He allowed only two hits in 5 1/3 while walking one and striking out 10. Matt McShane was a highlight out of the bullpen, firing a scoreless ninth as he sandwiched his one walk with three strikeouts.
With 10 games left to play, the Drive remain 2 1/2 games out of a South Atlantic League playoff spot.
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A big day from Louis Andujar could not prevent Salem's sweep at the hands of red-hot Fayetteville. The third baseman gave the RidgeYaks a short-lived 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the second inning on his way to a 3-for-3 effort in the opener. Martin Shelar blasted his first professional home run, a two-run blast in the third. It was a tough day on the mound for Christian Foutch, who allowed all 11 runs (nine earned) on eight hits in 2 2/3, striking out five and walking three. Cade Vire and Wuilliams Rodriguez combined for 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief, striking out three apiece in two and 1 1/3 innings, respectively.
After the slugfest in the opener, the two teams combined for just six hits in the nightcap as Fayetteville completed the sweep. Two of Salem's three hits came off the bat of Franklin Primera, who also scored the only Salem run. Primera, who walked in the opener, has reached base safely in 30 consecutive starts, during which he is hitting .393/.536/.617. Andujar reached base three more times, drawing a walk and twice being hit by pitches. Ethan Walker got the start, allowing two unearned runs on three hits in four innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk. The bullpen once again followed with three hitless frames: this time it was Nicholas Judice going 2 2/3 before Nicolas De La Cruz recorded the final out.
The sweep leaves Salem's playoff chances on life support, as they sit 8 1/2 games behind Fayetteville with 10 left to play. Fayetteville, winners of nine straight, have opened up a 6 1/2 game lead over second-place Wilson.
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Player of the Day: The sweep in Wednesday's doubleheader was not the fault of Louis Andujar, who reached base six times in the twinbill. The 18-year-old Andujar had a tough transition to the Carolina League after a hot start in the FCL, going 7 for 74 (.095) with just one extra-base hit in his first 20 games with the RidgeYaks. A two-hit effort on June 27th marked the start of his turnaround, and he has hit .331/.430/.604 in 37 games since. Andujar is now hitting .279/.377/.491 across two levels, and is the 38th-ranked prospect in the system.
.Photo Credit: Louis Andujar by Kelly O'Connor